The West at 547 West 47^th Street makes an immediate mark on the evolving streetscape of Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood. The elevation of this modern-day classic combines the past with the present. The result is a divine piece of architecture that will endure as a showstopper for decades to follow.  

So with deep admiration for this statement design we anoint 547 West 47^th Street as the newest edition to our “Buildings We Love,” series. 

The West essentially combines two distinct architectural elements.  The first six floors, with its uneven bricks, pay homage to the neighborhood’s industrial roots while the upper six floors are a modern interpretation of space and light with a random pattern of stacked glass cubes.  Yes, in this case opposites do attract.

The building spans a full city block along Eleventh Avenue between West 47th Street and West 48th Street.  The full-service condominium rises 12 floors and contains 219 apartments.  An automotive showroom will occupy the ground floor; car showrooms have been a neighborhood staple for decades.

Besides the eye candy, the contrasting architectural styles represent the two different types of apartment environments offered at The West – loft-style living and penthouse-style living. 

The units within the brick base are known as “The Residences” and reflect the area’s industrial past.  The interiors of these apartments are inspired by the classic New York City loft.    High ceilings, oversized industrial-styled windows and open floor plans define these homes. 

The building’s masonry is a bit different from most brick buildings. The architect used upcycled bricks on the bottom half of the structure. The material, known as waste-brick, is sourced from construction sites in Europe.   The end product has a unique texture with a. slightly uneven surface and a deeper look and feel. 

The Rotterdam based firm “Stone Cycling” is the innovative team behind the technology that produces this style of brick. 

Stone Cycling specializes in producing building materials from building debris. The West contains more than 308 tons of recycled brick and debris which in turn was used to create 30 different masonry shapes and sizes. Each brick was kiln fired to create the building’s elaborate façade.  

The glass cubes that crown the building’s base are appropriately named “The Cloud Residences.”  Each unit is flush with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows that wrap around each apartment. Sliding glass walls allow residents to alter the configuration of these homes depending on their needs and wants.  According to the marketing materials for The West, “the sliding walls create a personalized home design.”

The West was designed by Dutch architectural firm Concrete and developed by CB Development, SK Development and Ironstate Development working collectively under the banner of CBSK-Ironstate. The Dutch firm of Roord Binnenbouw collaborated with Concrete on the interiors.

Building amenities, both interior and exterior, are plentiful.  They include a full-time concierge, outdoor pool and sundeck, private cabanas, outdoor grilling stations, manicured rooftop garden, dog run, kids playroom, fitness center, private library, storage, a bike shop, laundromat and private chef (at a cost).

The West presently lists 18 apartments for sale at an average per square foot price of $1,874.  Studio apartments start at $780,000.  One-bedrooms start at $1,055,000 and two-bedrooms start at $1,885,000.  The asking prices of these units average $1,874 per square foot. Corcoran is the exclusive marketing agent for the property. 

To learn more about The West, please visit Linecity.