VIA 57 West / BIG

Architects: BIG / Bjarke Ingels Group
Area: 77,202 m²
Year: 2016
Photography: Iwan Baan, Nic Lehoux
Lead Architects: Bjarke Ingels, Thomas Christoffersen, Beat Schenk, David Brown
Client: The Durst Organization
City: New York
Country: United States

VIA 57 West, a residential building designed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group in 201, introduces a new typology in New York City: the Courtscraper. Combining the density of an American skyscraper with the communal space of a European courtyard, this 77,000 m² high-rise offers 709 residential units centered around a lush 2000 m² garden.

VIA 57 West, designed by BIG for the Durst organization, presents a new building typology to New York City Courtscraper. The 77,000 m² high-rise blends the density of an American skyscraper with the communal space of a European courtyard, featuring 70 residential units and a 2000 m² garden at its core.

VIA spans nearly a full city block at West 57th Street and the West Side Highway, with uninterrupted views of Hudson River Park and the waterfront. The Durst Organization commissioned BIG to design the building in 2010, with construction starting in 2011. The 32-story building has been occupied since May 2016, with completion in the fall. Earlier this year, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) named VIA the Best Tall Building in the Americas for 2016.

Douglas Durst of The Durst Organization expressed excitement over the building, noting its performance exceeded expectations in terms of velocity and rents.

The VIA Courtscraper hybridizes the European perimeter block and the American high-rise. Peaking at 137 meters at its northeast corner, it maximizes apartment numbers while preserving views from the adjacent Helena Tower. VIA’s shape shifts based on the viewer’s perspective, appearing as a hyperbolic paraboloid or a slender spire from different angles.

The central green space mirrors a classic Copenhagen urban oasis, transforming from a shaded forest to a sunny meadow. Landscape architecture firm Starr Whitehouse designed the courtyard, which includes 80 trees and 47 species of native plants.

Bjarke Ingels, founding partner of BIG, highlighted VIA’s role in the trend of urban green spaces reintegrating into the city. Located at the northern tip of Hudson River Park, VIA fuses the courtyard and skyscraper typologies, adding to Manhattan’s skyline.

By lowering three block corners and raising the northeast portion, VIA opens views of the Hudson River and allows sunlight into the courtyard. This private sanctuary for residents remains visible from outside, linking visually with the park’s greenery.

Predominantly residential, VIA includes cultural and commercial spaces on the street level and second floor. The lobby connects directly to the courtyard via a grand stair, inviting residents into the shared space. Amenities include lounges, event spaces, a golf simulator, movie screening room, pool, basketball court, gym, and game rooms, all arranged around the courtyard to foster a strong connection between interior and exterior communal spaces.

Upper-level apartments follow a fishbone layout, oriented towards the water. Large terraces in the warped facade maximize views and light while ensuring privacy.

The interior design, termed “Scandimerican,” combines Scandinavian and New York materials, featuring oak wood floors and cabinets, and white porcelain bathroom tiles.

Event spaces showcase the VIA57 chair, designed by BIG and KiBiSi for Fritz Hansen, reflecting the building’s tetrahedral shape.

An eight-story sculpture by Stephen Glassman, “Flows Two Ways,” complements the building, anchoring the facade of the adjacent Helena Tower. The Ground floor will host amenities such as a restaurant from the Livanos Restaurant Group, a Landmark Theatres cinema, and the first U.S. store for the American Kennel Club.