Anyone else see some similarities and/or resemblance to a Battery? It's in Battery Park, I wonder if the architect had any inspiration. I've done some fast research into this but found nothing.
interesting observation, never really noticed until you mentioned it. it looks a lot more like a battery in photos where you can see the entire roof though.
Yeah, it does resemble a battery but only when the roof top is visible. Other than that, it really doesn't. Great building, too bad it's being molested by those two black ugly boxes...
So what if it 17 State St looks like a battery. The Chyrsler Bldg looks like a giant pencil and the ESB looks a like a needle used by doctors. Architects have been known to design buildings to look like things, so this is nothing new.
LOL -- it does look like a battery and I kinda feel dumb that I never thought of that especially since its @ Battery Park like you say. I simply love 17 State. I take a picture of it whenever I'm down there, always a cool cloud formation or sun reflection working on it.
Again, TalB, these things you bring on yourself, sorry to say, but by talking negetively and saying something that everyone already knows, you must expect it.
Hi, I'm new here and noticed this thread and I'm sorry for the bump since this was written like 5 years ago, but the architect of 17th state street is my dad.
The architect's name is Roy Gee. He worked for Emery Roth & Sons for years, originally in Houston Texas till they moved and we as a family relocated to NYC in the early 80s.
As for his inspiration... lol it was not a battery. I asked him this today after I saw this thread through google search and showed him this forum. He told me it was to be sorta like a lighthouse looking out over a harbor.
Thank you all for the positive words about the building and it's design, it's my favorite building my dad has ever decided. I was in awe of it when I was a little boy and still am today.
I always struggled to like this one because of the stark contrast with the neighboring buildings as well as the defiantly modern look of 17 State St. But as you say, it bears a kind of lighthouse function (if not look) by virtue of its contrast and the way it really stands out from a distance. The battery thing is funny though and would be even more so if a battery company leased the building or used it in a promotion.
Who's they? My father is the sole designer/architect of this building and it was never meant to look like a battery... simple as that. Emery Roth & Sons and the old owner of the building Melvin Kaufman didn't ask my father to design something that looked like a battery. You can think what you want though, that's your right.
Like I said you can believe that it's a nice coincidence, that's your right. I'm just trying to say factually that it was never intended to look like a battery or thought to be designed that way... that's all.
Also I was confused when you wrote "they"
No harm done. I'm just trying to get some true facts out about this building, including who designed it (which the OP asked years ago.) No problem if you think it looks like a battery.
The building would be spectacular with a modern re-clad. I find myself saying that more and more about modernist towers, moving away from wanting them replaced entirely.
I actually find this one to be striking. Everytime I bring someone to the Statue of Liberty ferry, they would always comment how beautiful this building is. The two black boxes emphasizes its beauty even more so
Just so everyone is clear, Battery Park is not named for the kind of batteries you put in electronics. It refers to when that part of Manhattan held a Gun Battery, which is a storage for guns and other military supplies, during the 17th and 18th century.
I know this thread hasn't been commented on in over two years but I had to clear that up, haha.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
SkyscraperCity Forum
139.4M posts
1.1M members
Since 2002
A truly global community dedicated to skyscrapers, cities, urban development, and the metropolitan environment. Join us to share news, views and fun about architecture, construction, transport, skylines, and much more!