64 University Place

Greenwich Village is a historic district in lower Manhattan, recognized for its cultural importance and landmark-designated buildings and areas, predominantly in red brick. At 64 University Place, the design intent was to define a contemporary version of the American vernacular, responding to the materiality of the neighborhood and the local precedent of Revival-style architecture. The 11-story residential building of 28 apartments continues the line of the street wall and mediates between the differing scales of adjacent buildings, with the volume of the building stepping back at higher levels to provide terraces for residents. The façade is composed of a grid of deeply recessed, shallow arches constructed of hand-set brick which provides great depth and texture without ornament. For occupants, the repeating form of the arches becomes an embracing device, ensuring plentiful internal daylight and excellent views outward, with Juliet balconies enabling connectivity with the street. On the ground floor, retail space and a public gallery engage the development with the daily life of the neighborhood. The apartments are efficiently planned to provide maximum comfort and space for entertaining with a rich but understated materiality of textured plaster walls, timber paneling, stone floors, marble bathrooms, and crafted wood cabinetry creating a luxurious, minimalist aesthetic. Residents’ amenities include a lounge that opens onto a landscaped courtyard garden, gym, and sauna. An expression of craft in construction, the brick façade relied on the expertise and precision of the bricklayers as much as the thoughtful detailing and carefully selected materials. Flashed bricks were specified, for their subtle color variation. These were laid with an a-typical 3/8” raked mortar joint, with grout selected in a similar color – allowing the façade to read as a monumental form. The resulting building connects the old and the new with a vigorous piece of contextual architecture.