152 Elizabeth, Tadao Ando
The Master's Masterpiece
When Noë & Associates were approached by developer Sumaida + Khurana, they talked about a vision to help create the brand and narrative — and to build the team to help articulate that narrative. All of this for a very special place designed by master architect Tadao Ando, with interiors by Michael Gabellini. Discussion points included the purity of ideas, refinement, reduction, context, and application.
For a building to truly work, Ando believes there has to be a balance of its elements — not just between the light and the shadow, but also between the water, the greenery, the steel, and the glass. About 152 Elizabeth, Ando says that “Every single thing has to be in harmony.”
Sectors
- Residential
Locations
- The Americas
Services
- Strategy
- Design
- Content
- AI & Innovation
- Environments & Wayfinding
- Production
The Financial Times“The emerging block in the North of Little Italy area looks like it might become one of the most elegant condo buildings the city has ever seen. Simple, self-effacing, and beautifully proportioned, it is the work of Tadao Ando, the Japanese architect. The one-time boxer who is now revered as a creator of serene museums and impeccable concrete surfaces, has designed an intriguing building that combines his familiar motifs with something of Nolita’s particular blend of loft living and industrial construction.”
Documenting a Master
We wanted to create a voice, to educate those who were not familiar with Ando’s—and interior architect Michael Gabellini’s—work, and to tell a different story to those who were. When you first enter a Tadao Ando building the feeling of serenity and the quality of the most basic of materials are second to none.
The New York Times“His buildings have risen in Tokyo, Milan, Shanghai, and even Butwal, Nepal, but Tadao Ando, the Japanese architect lauded for his artistry and elegance, has never designed one in New York City—until now.”
Materials Choice
We wanted to capture the feelings of serenity and quality with every touchpoint of the project, from the typography, to paper choices, to the way a drawer opens in the sales gallery. Our team all share a similar aesthetic vision and the fundamental value of doing things better. This project has been a reinforcement of the importance of ‘emptiness’ in both the visual and the philosophical traditions of Japan and its application to design.
Tadao Ando“A living space should be a sanctuary. It has to be a place where you can reflect on your life.”
Michael Gabellini“The word ‘luxury’ is so amorphous and anonymous. For us, this idea of luxury is how you think about fitting out a space with proportion, with a sense of materiality.”
