Charlie West – Manhattan’s only new ground-up construction residential development in Hell’s Kitchen – is now complete.
The striking 16-storey condominium building, with exterior design by ODA Architects and interiors by Lemay + Escobar Architecture DPC, creates an urban oasis at 505 W. 43rd Street.
With a judicious separation into two distinct buildings creating an elegant courtyard, the design weaves in the steely characteristics of the neighbourhood’s past, combined with the luxury and modernism of present-day Hell’s Kitchen.
Upon arrival at the luxury condominium, the dramatic double-height hotel-style lobby draws one into the industrial chic-designed interior space that dually serves as a curated library and a private residential lounge, anchored by a grand fireplace. The welcoming area is framed by its distinctive diagonal beams, a structural necessity the designers maximised and made into a defining feature.
The interior design team have infused the neighbourhood’s DNA throughout Charlie West’s spacious amenities and successfully curated an industrial yet modern and inviting interior design for the lounge, pool and gym, as well as the 120 residences, through the use of natural materials and opulent textures.
Escobar senior partner and design principal said: “The interiors transport you to another place and exude a relaxed vibe, with a very sophisticated palate. You could easily feel as though you are in a boutique hotel in Miami rather than a luxury condominium in Hell’s Kitchen.”
While original plans called for two stand-alone buildings, the ODA team was able to approach the design with an innovative perspective, creating one holistic living experience by way of a uniquely designed bike storage room. By integrating a connecting path between the buildings with a 44-foot-long glass-enclosed bike room, ODA was able to centralise the amenities and create a more spacious environment for residents without doubling up on lobbies, mailrooms and elevator banks.
“The bike room in the courtyard area between the two buildings acts as a connecting corridor, which allowed us to create one unifying development, rather than two separate towers,” said Christian Bailey, principal at ODA.
Reflecting the vibrancy of 43rd Street, residents can enjoy various amenities including an indoor pool with open-air access, the 6,000 square-foot landscaped private courtyard, a contemporary children’s playroom, a state-of-the-art fitness centre flooded with sunlight, and a translucent glass-enclosed “bike box” that reimagines typical bike storage as an innovative architectural centrepiece.
Photpgraphy by Reuveni Real Estate and Inessa Binenbaum
