New York Times — Fall Architecture Preview "The New Architecture: Sky Parks, Tidal Pools and ‘Solar Carving'"

‘Can buildings be more porous, more open to the vitality of the surrounding city? As with the creation of the great urban parks of the 19th century, designers today are rebalancing the relationship between architecture and nature, with the goal of increasing the quality of life, especially in urban settings…

You can see the faceted black glass from the High Line, just south of 14th Street, or catch a glimpse as you drive along West Street. It looks like an experiment in fractal theory; the mass of the office building appears to just fall away. It’s an effect that the Chicago-based architect Jeanne Gang calls “solar carving,” an approach that has become her signature: she designs glass facades with patterns that appear decorative but address problems like solar heat gain or bird strikes.

For Studio Gang’s first completed project in New York City, the facade was sculpted to prevent it from casting shadows on the famous elevated park next door. This act of architectural generosity came about, Ms. Gang said, because she wasn’t just ‘thinking about the views from inside the building, but thinking about people’s views on the High Line.'”

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