The Smile
New York, United States
Client
Blumenfeld Development Group
Typology
Residential
Size m2/ft2
25,601 / 275,568
Status
Completed
EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS — Situated on the quieter street corridor of 126th street, the site is directly adjacent to an existing commercial building.
STREET LEVEL AMENITIES — A connection is provided through the existing commercial building into a retail space and gallery to encourage engagement with the community.
ADAPTING THE FORM TO CONTEXT — The Smile extends up from the site, appearing to hover over the adjacent commercial property. This final configuration results in a T-shape form that optimizes the number of units and southern views for the residents.
ZONING FRONTAGE — The facade is pushed inward to keep The Smile contained within the allowed zoning envelope while also allowing more sunlight onto 126th street.
COLLECTIVE SOCIAL SPACE — Residents can enjoy the amenities and the rooftop, which includes landscaped berms, pools, and event spaces.
“The façade of The Smile drapes gently between the building’s two neighbors and leans inward to allow sunlight and air to reach the street, thus fulfilling the century old set-back requirements in a new way. Like a good neighbor, it fits into the existing neighborhood, feeding from the community’s energy to add new sparks to the community of East Harlem.”Bjarke Ingels - Founder & Creative Director, BIG
Partner in Charge
Beat Schenk
Bjarke Ingels
Kai-Uwe Bergmann
Thomas Christoffersen
Project Leader
Elena Bresciani
Everald Colas
Jennifer Ng
Lucio Santos
Michelle Stromsta
Project Leader, Interiors
Francesca Portesine
Rita Sio
Project Team
Adrien Mans
Agne Rapkeviciute
Amelia Harvey
Annette Miller
Ava Nourbaran
Ben Caldwell
Benjamin Dinapoli
Daniel Sundlin
Daniele Pronesti
Deb Campbell
Dennis Harvey
Douglass Alligood
Eva Maria Mikkelsen
Gabriel Hernandez Solano
Iannis Kandyliaris
Jakob Henke
Jan Leenknegt
Janice Rim
Jennifer Phan
Jennifer Wood
Jeremy Babel
Jialin Yuan
John Kim
Jose Jimenez
Julie Kaufman
Julien Beauchamp-Roy
Kayeon Lee
Ku Hun Chung
Kurt Nieminen
Lina Bondarenko
Margaret Tyrpa
Mark Rakhmanov
Megan Ng
Quentin Stanton
Sarah Habib
Shu Zhao
Tara Hagan
Taylor Fulton
Terrence Chew
Terrence Lallak
Valentina Mele
Wells Barber
Wojciech Swarowski
Yaziel Juarbe
Yoanna Shivarova
Awards
Big Apple Brownfield Award for Community Advocacy and Engagement, 2022
Residential Architect Design Award for Multifamily Housing category, 2021
Interior Design Best of Year Award for Multi-Unit Housing Category, 2021
Urban Land Institute (ULI) Jack Kemp Award for Affordable Housing, 2021
Collaborators
ZDG
Thornton Tomasetti
Cosentini Associates
Milrose Consultants
Eckersley O’Callaghan
Langan Engineering
Van Deusen Associates
Aquatectonic Lothrop Associates LLP
Steven Winter Associates
Jaffe Holden
Robert Schwartz and Associates
Fox Rothschild
Lerch Bates
Design For Leisure