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Battle of the Tallest: 432 Vs. One World Trade Centre

Author : angela-fedele

Located in the centre of on leafy Park Avenue between 56th and , building will stand 1,396 feet tall, just topping the rooftop height of World Trade Centre building, which stands at 1,368 feet excluding its 124-metre spire.

In what was a momentous moment for New York last month, the spire of the One World Trade Centre was installed taking the building to a final height of 1,776 feet, a reference to the year of America’s independence.

The tower’s spire has drawn consistent debate as to whether it should be considered in the buildings official height as site owners the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have also claimed the title of the ’s tallest building.

Architect Rafael Vinoly.

Originally, the spire was intended to be housed within a radome but freestanding, it could now be considered an antenna which according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is not considered in the final architectural height.

While the verdict is still out on the tallest building, Viñoly is confident that 432 Park Avenue will receive the final recognition.

“To me the critical thing in every building is the possibility of changing convention,” Viñoly explained in a video about the project.

“We effectively look at every project differently…one thing that really is the case of death in this business is to circumscribe yourself to one particular building type.”

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Viñoly said he felt a building of that height had to strike a balance between form and its actual structure.

Apartments for 432 Park Avenue went on sale in March and over a third of the 126 units were sold, totaling sales of over $1 billion in spaces priced from US$7 million to US$95 million.

The slender 432 will extend 96 stories featuring a glazed concrete steel and glass façade. It will also boast 10-by-10 foot windows, drawing in an abundance of natural light offering residents extensive views of , the Hudson and East river and all the way to New Jersey and Brooklyn.

The geometrically aligned exteriors feature six components per floor, separated by a gap that also works as a wind effect mechanism to reduce the creation of the vortex.

Construction has commenced on 432 Park Avenue Tower

Inside, the number of apartments per floor will be reduced from four to one on the upper levels, and natural materials including solid oak floors and Italian marble bathrooms are set to decorate the residencies.

Implementing public and collaborative spaces within the tower was important to Viñoly with the building set to house a private restaurant, outdoor garden, private elevator landings, a pool, spa and fitness centre and more, with over 30,000 square feet of amenities for residents.

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“When one building typology becomes the city, it’s not anymore a building typology – its something else,” explains Viñoly of the building atmosphere he’s worked to create.

“…So the experience of participating in that kind of strange relationship where you have multiple layers of publicness by the level of which people connect visually at certain heights is 100% a New York experience.”

While a decision has yet to be made on the official height of the One World Trade Centre, the structure will continue to hold the title for tallest building in the US and the Western Hemisphere ahead of the in Chicago at 1,451 feet and the Trump International Hotel and Tower which stands at 1,389 feet. If the spire is recognised as an antenna, however, it will swiftly drop to third place and will slip to fourth upon the completion of 432 Park Avenue tower.

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