The nearly 1,400-foot tower at 432 Park Avenue, briefly the tallest residential building in the world, was the pinnacle of New York’s luxury condo boom half a decade ago, fueled largely by foreign buyers seeking discretion and big returns.
Six years later, residents of the exclusive tower are now at odds with the developers, and each other, making clear that even multimillion-dollar price tags do not guarantee problem-free living. The claims include millions of dollars of water damage from plumbing and mechanical issues; frequent elevator malfunctions; and walls that creak like the galley of a ship — all of which may be connected to the building’s main selling point: its immense height, according to homeowners, engineers and documents obtained by The New York Times.
Less than a decade after a spate of record-breaking condo towers reached new heights in New York, the first reports of defects and complaints are beginning to emerge, raising concerns that some of the construction methods and materials used have not lived up to the engineering breakthroughs that only recently enabled 1,000-foot-high trophy apartments. Engineers privy to some of the disputes say many of the same issues are occurring quietly in other new towers.
Boohoo.
Actually, my heart really does not bleed for these people.
However, since it's my absolute Fave Building,
I found some more pix to share...
Actually, my heart really does not bleed for these people.
However, since it's my absolute Fave Building,
I found some more pix to share...
Once again - obviously - I went overboard with the pix.
Thanx for the pix and the story; saw a program on PBS, a long time ago, about what a remarkable engineering feat this building was becoming; obviously, that wasn't the reality. Obvious, too, that all the money in the world won't buy you a problem-free existence. (Nor will lies from petty failed presidents with wannabe dictator delusions...but I digress).
ReplyDeleteRad - This - and all the others worldwide - demonstrate that too many people have more money than they deserve.
ReplyDeletePurple Wolf - That would have been a very interesting PBS program to me.
It so cool to think about and see, but I know I wouldn't be comfortable living in one at all. They go up way to fast for my liking. God forbid the plates under New York ever decide to shift.....that city will go down like dominos. and then there is the fire issue if a huge fire would break out for me. Reminds me of Steve McQueen in the Towering Inferno.
ReplyDelete"You guys, keep making them taller and taller, and when a fire breaks out, you know we can't fight anything safely over the 50th floor...but you still continue going taller."
I also saw the tv show about special structures in the world where they showed how the 432 was built and all the engeneer behind it.
ReplyDeleteWhat was fabbergasting to me is the price of ONE appartment there. For sure as you mentioned, there are some few very wealthy people that can afford one of those.
For the «Purple Wolf» last sentence and from a Canadian point of view, this «tial» is so freaking nonsense with all the evidences showed and still, those moron Trumplicans are not hearing or seeing the log in their eyes of this «dictator's» action and words to steal the election.
USA international democratic's reputation is shaking and sure, Putin and other dictators are rejoycing...
Mistress Maddie - I forgot all about the plates under New York. I agree that it would be uncomfortable living in one, but I'd like to visit one.
ReplyDeleteJiEL - I can't bring myself to watch the drama unfolding in Washington right now.
This building... just because we can, doesn't mean we should.
ReplyDeleteThis building has no architectural merit whatsoever. It may be able to stand up, but it is neither beautiful nor providing an uplifting experience for its occupants.
ReplyDeleteJust imagine having to inhabit this soulless place: 6 windows in each direction, and much of its floor space taken up by the lift shaft and WC core.
An ideal place to commit suicide from, where it not for the fact that the windows probably don't even open.
This building looks like it would topple over in a windstorm!!! How has the Empire State Building holding up?
ReplyDeleteNever too many architecture pics, Rick. Always amazed at the end result of man's imagination. But this building is troubling. One has to question how that thing is still standing. Lots of physics and structural engineering going on there. But we are not eagles. We do not live in aeries for that reason. When the nest (home) begins to fall for some reason, we don't just soar off and find another mountainside on which to build anew. No, when that tower topples, they will have a brief moment before their demise to consider the wealth their spoiled, bratty heirs will receive, the same loving rich children that wished they would have died earlier than this. Cynical? You damn right!
ReplyDeleteuptonking - It kind of reminds me of the Titanic: biggest, strongest, unsinkable. If the plates shift as Mistress Maddie mentioned, there's gonna be an awful lot of hurtin' goin' on.
ReplyDeleteIvan Flint - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I find this building quite beautiful in its simplicity of design. But you're right: from the interiors I've seen, there's no soul. And one would have to be very determined to break those windows to leap through.
Luv chocolate - I'm sure that building sways uncomfortably in a wind storm. As far as I know, The Empire State Building is holding up just fine.
Milleson - Humans will always push the boundary of any endeavor. Often successfully, sometimes not.
Just like Mistress Maddie wrote, as impressive in terms of engineering as these towers can be, one of my first thoughts about them is always earthquake. Then comes storm, etc And eventually a smile at thinking that,
ReplyDelete[start mode : dream]
should I afford to buy an apartment in one of those, I would much more likely go for an old mansion (and I mean an actual old one) and renovate it. At least it would come with sufficient ground to arrange a large and peaceful garden.
[end mode : dream]
As you mentioned, the important is to find beauty in some things. About that, the Chrysler building remains in my list of "places to visit someday".
Anyway, thank you for the pictures, I did not know of the 432.
Cracks me up that people with that kind of money seem to think they will not have the same issues as everyone else just because they've spent millions of dollars on that apartment/condo. Poor misguided folks.
ReplyDeletelove towers
ReplyDeleteBatRedneck - I like your dream mode. I like the Chrysler building as well.
ReplyDeletewhkattk - Too much money misguides many.
As someone who suffers from pretty intense vertigo, I can't even LOOK at these images without white-knuckling my desk chair! The idea of actually entering that thing and ascending to one of the higher floors is simply out of the question for me. Luckily, my bank account precludes any such meanderings. For the immediate future, at any rate.
ReplyDeleteLike you, though, I find it difficult (to say the least) to muster any sympathy for those wealthy & foolhardy enough to have flocked to such a place. Architecturally interesting from the outside but, especially after 9/11, who in their right mind would rush to live in what amounts to a WTC clone?! (Sorry, it's the vertigo talking.) They can keep it.
Thanks, Rick!
Jimbo - I understand vertigo. That must be a very uncomfortable sensation. I, however, have more of a simple fear of heights, which I challenge every once in a while.
ReplyDelete