The Smile nestles perfectly between the surrounding buildings. With a view of the “Main Street”, it is not over exaggerated to speak about the heart of the neighborhood. Towards the south, the residential complex towers over the existing buildings on the 125th Street. Along the 126th Street, the building inclines gently to the inside, deviates from the hard linear kerb of the road in an elegant gesture and as result, appears like a smile from above. Due to the curved front, the building moves optimally in the permissible development plan from 1916, which specifies a tiered facade for the design of high-rise buildings in order to give the streets more access to wind and direct sunlight.
“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 and Creative Director, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.

Project data
Name
The Smile
Country
USA
Architect
BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group
Material
Stainless Steel
Year
2021

