Quite unlike Shigeru Ban’s most recent humanitarian work in the Philippines, the Japanese designer turns his attention away from cardboard construction, in favour of an interior design project.
Recent Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Ban unveils the interior conversion of a historic landmark in New York: Cast Iron House.
Originally built in 1881 by James White, 67 Franklin Street represents one of New York’s most sumptuous examples of 19th-century cast iron architecture. The landmark building’s neoclassical façade rises six stories, with intricate ornamentation that shifts subtly from one floor to the next.
In reimagining the 13-unit building, Ban respected its historic detailing, but reimagined its interior volumes and created two glass and steel penthouses that represent the height of contemporary living.
Knightsbridge Properties, a Tribeca-based real estate agency committed to design-led redevelopment of historic and landmarked buildings in New York City, Berlin and London invited Ban to re-imagine the interior of the Cast Iron House.
Cast Iron House is seen as a neoclassical landmark in Tribeca, which combines the ethereal architecture Shigeru Ban is know for within a historic cast iron façade, says Jourdan Krauss, CEO and founder of Knightsbridge Properties.
Cast Iron House’s 11 contemporary duplex residences offer three, four and five bedrooms with cathedral-style, double-height living room spaces. Upon entry through a private elevator landing, homes open up into spacious kitchen, dining and living areas with white oak flooring. Kitchens, living areas and bedrooms feature matte finished white lacquer cabinetry custom designed by Shigeru Ban.
Both four and five-bedroom duplex penthouse residences capture expansive city views. Ban employs a steel cantilevered Vierendeel truss to create the illusion, from street level, that the penthouses are floating, integrating it seamlessly with the existing structure.
