Right? A design friend introduced me to the concept of "defensive architecture" which as you probably already know, means designing a place to be unwelcoming to exactly the people who mostly likely want to hang out there. I feel like that's far more the common approach...
There’s a “public” outdoor space in Manhattan someone pointed out to me that was created to allow the building to go higher, but the gates (meant to be open all day) are, curiously, always locked… the ultimate defense!
Those AI breakfast sandwiches are hilarious yet creepy. I would definitely watch a bagel themed evil villain movie where their nemesis are the dastardly bagel-scoopers who live among us!
The only guys I know who can eat those gigantic behemoth sandwiches might be Shaggy and Scooby-Doo.
Ya know how Emily Blunt stole the movie, The Devil Wears Prada? Bob takes the spotlight in this article. I want the heat turned back on at 60 Wall Street and I want the homeless welcomed there always. (What I really want is for those people to have a roof of their own but that’s another story.)
Your reporting always has a warmth because of your subjects you manage to interview. You took a building and humanized it, made it worthy of its 1980s design.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t written about this already I would love to know why the quiet restaurant with comfortable red booths and candlelight has been replaced with loud, cold, austerely designed food spaces with hard, wooden chairs.
Your question about restaurant design is interesting. I wonder if it has something to do with economics—I imagine it is easier and cheaper to keep hard surfaces clean. But yes, there are not many joints left that one would call romantic or cozy. Thanks for the idea.
Weird, when it is by accident, is almost always a good thing. The picture of the waffle ceiling leaves me feeling relaxed, the open space is oddly inviting, and I could see how maybe Covid killed off some of the commerce inside. I think the idea of requiring planned open places or private open places is a good idea, especially mandating restrooms and such. Maybe San Francisco could take a hint...
I'm curious why the need to spend money on something that seems perfectly functional. I like Bob's question about the cost, and if there isn't something better to do with the money.
I love the distinction between weird on purpose and by accident, Mark. And I agree the second is almost always a good thing.
I'd love to see more planned open space too. People need a place to land otherwise they're just flying around the city like crazy people!
It's interesting, I looked into the financials of Paramount Group and while they own office towers in NYC and San Fran worth a combined $10 billion, they lost $36 million last year. So they are probably not feeling super generous.
Interesting. Makes me wonder why they feel the need to spend money renovating that space. I wonder what information is missing that would make it make more sense.
The last tenant, Deutsche Bank left the building in 2021 and they've been trying to lease the whole thing since then. I imagine thinking is a spiffier lobby and atrium will make it more attractive.
OMG I have mixed emotions. The PDF was great. (1) 4 minutes I will never get back (2) Pg 37th Casual bro in jeans & sweatshirt is the only one who broke the dress code. (3) Pg47 Woman in in white jacket could be a drone at a recharging station (4) Pg67 "Lunch is not for wimps -- we now know wellness matters" (5) Humans designed this brochure - they should fear AI.
Just trying to finish strong. The generative ai not my thing. If I look at yours I have to look at others. Expect you will run out of bing credits soon.
BTW the bathrooms looked nice -- not surprising when you reported it was Deutsche Bank I was reminded of Michael Lewis book Boomerang. Maybe my favorite financial crisis book ever -- lots to say about German proclivities -- as to your comments about your generated drawing maybe you invoked Jesus mode for the water :)
Ok, ok, I don't know how much more fantabulous your newsletters can get. Each week more and more fantabulous, just like the bagels. And yes, fantabulous is a real word, and used appropriately. Unlike, the word bardo which I feel may not be. But as almost everything, that is a matter of opinion - so no complaints. Thank you!
"I emailed Paramount Group to ask when the project would start, and whether the new space would welcome homeless persons, and if they might provide a TV, a stage and microwave oven. I have yet to hear back."
Gee, Anne, why didn't you ask them for a hot tub while you were at it?
I think the odds are good that nobody tasked with the new atrium design did what you did so well here and actually talked to the people who use the space the most. At least it seems popular?
I've photographed quite a few POPS for a show on zoning and briefly considered doing a project documenting all of them but quickly realized that would be a really boring project - and that's coming from someone who photographs dead ends and walls for fun. Your piece has convinced me that l have to make my way back to Wall St before the Mediterranean Waffle Maker is unplugged.
I really hope all the people who currently enjoy 60 Wall St get to enjoy the remodeled space. Do we know if the other 600 POPS allow homeless people to hang out? Interestingly, the second bagel pic is the most disturbing! I guess the rest are so over the top they didn’t impact me like that second one!
Courtney, most of the 600 POPs are outdoor plazas and such, so there are not many places like 60 Wall. Here is a breakdown provided by the city if you're interested:
It'd be interesting to know how many of the 180 "Other" types of POPS are enclosed, climate-controlled spaces like 60 Wall Street. Love the graph under "Resources" but wish it were even more specific!
So sad… and the quirkiness creates something to really NOTICE. Why do something bland? Bland just stops people from looking properly and noticing. I'm sure Rob Walker would agree! By the way, I LOVED your piece when you asked Rob to set you a noticing challenge but I cant find it anymore.
the only realistic lox (if thats what it is supposed to be because they more resemble fluted faded cold cuts) are the limp bits hangin off the bottom of the !00ft wall of bagel sandwee round which the excitable eye-poppin minis are gathered like they just caught glimpse of Taylor Swift stepping out of a bathtub
Whoa missed this but am also noticing a number of cyclops bagels in that image as well as the fact that the main bagel towering of the city has TWO mouths and TWO sets of eyeballs!
What a *crazy* idea to make a space deliberately welcoming to the people who need it the most…
Right? A design friend introduced me to the concept of "defensive architecture" which as you probably already know, means designing a place to be unwelcoming to exactly the people who mostly likely want to hang out there. I feel like that's far more the common approach...
There’s a “public” outdoor space in Manhattan someone pointed out to me that was created to allow the building to go higher, but the gates (meant to be open all day) are, curiously, always locked… the ultimate defense!
Yeah, and once you know about it, you’ll spot it everywhere. Designed to exclude. It’s awful.
Those AI breakfast sandwiches are hilarious yet creepy. I would definitely watch a bagel themed evil villain movie where their nemesis are the dastardly bagel-scoopers who live among us!
The only guys I know who can eat those gigantic behemoth sandwiches might be Shaggy and Scooby-Doo.
Justin, that is a great idea to have an action flick where the city is inhabited by nefarious BAGEL SCOOPERS. Except it's already happening!
Ya know how Emily Blunt stole the movie, The Devil Wears Prada? Bob takes the spotlight in this article. I want the heat turned back on at 60 Wall Street and I want the homeless welcomed there always. (What I really want is for those people to have a roof of their own but that’s another story.)
Your reporting always has a warmth because of your subjects you manage to interview. You took a building and humanized it, made it worthy of its 1980s design.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t written about this already I would love to know why the quiet restaurant with comfortable red booths and candlelight has been replaced with loud, cold, austerely designed food spaces with hard, wooden chairs.
Thank you CK!
Your question about restaurant design is interesting. I wonder if it has something to do with economics—I imagine it is easier and cheaper to keep hard surfaces clean. But yes, there are not many joints left that one would call romantic or cozy. Thanks for the idea.
And please report back Paramount group’s response!
I will for sure if they get back to me!
Weird, when it is by accident, is almost always a good thing. The picture of the waffle ceiling leaves me feeling relaxed, the open space is oddly inviting, and I could see how maybe Covid killed off some of the commerce inside. I think the idea of requiring planned open places or private open places is a good idea, especially mandating restrooms and such. Maybe San Francisco could take a hint...
I'm curious why the need to spend money on something that seems perfectly functional. I like Bob's question about the cost, and if there isn't something better to do with the money.
I love the distinction between weird on purpose and by accident, Mark. And I agree the second is almost always a good thing.
I'd love to see more planned open space too. People need a place to land otherwise they're just flying around the city like crazy people!
It's interesting, I looked into the financials of Paramount Group and while they own office towers in NYC and San Fran worth a combined $10 billion, they lost $36 million last year. So they are probably not feeling super generous.
Interesting. Makes me wonder why they feel the need to spend money renovating that space. I wonder what information is missing that would make it make more sense.
The last tenant, Deutsche Bank left the building in 2021 and they've been trying to lease the whole thing since then. I imagine thinking is a spiffier lobby and atrium will make it more attractive.
You can see the marketing brochure here:
https://api-paramount-group.reol.com/pdf?id=d757492cf9b0675001bdf67c15f55449b0c469cf&file_name=par1001_60wall_digital_brochure_220222.pdf
Very, very corporate... They clearly envisage a very different clientele. Dramatic change lies ahead...
OMG I have mixed emotions. The PDF was great. (1) 4 minutes I will never get back (2) Pg 37th Casual bro in jeans & sweatshirt is the only one who broke the dress code. (3) Pg47 Woman in in white jacket could be a drone at a recharging station (4) Pg67 "Lunch is not for wimps -- we now know wellness matters" (5) Humans designed this brochure - they should fear AI.
Wow you went DEEP on the brochure Mr. Dolan! You're right about Mr. Page 37. Who let that guy in? LOL at Ms. Page 47 you're totally spot on!
Also you have inspired me! I just asked AI: "Design a new public atrium for the building at 60 Wall Street in New York City." Here is the result (weirdly, it features a guest literally walking on water): https://www.bing.com/images/create/design-a-new-public-atrium-for-the-building-at-60-/1-656f32196b604153a334308c36dfa4ae?id=isMpLwifXoR4dwt%2fI4s1Hg%3d%3d&view=detailv2&idpp=genimg&FORM=GCRIDP&mode=overlay
Just trying to finish strong. The generative ai not my thing. If I look at yours I have to look at others. Expect you will run out of bing credits soon.
BTW the bathrooms looked nice -- not surprising when you reported it was Deutsche Bank I was reminded of Michael Lewis book Boomerang. Maybe my favorite financial crisis book ever -- lots to say about German proclivities -- as to your comments about your generated drawing maybe you invoked Jesus mode for the water :)
Oh wow, so the building is empty? That makes more sense.
there are a lot of meaningless buzz phrases in that brochure. My favorite: "A place full of possibility, fueled by change."
LOL I missed that one!
Ok, ok, I don't know how much more fantabulous your newsletters can get. Each week more and more fantabulous, just like the bagels. And yes, fantabulous is a real word, and used appropriately. Unlike, the word bardo which I feel may not be. But as almost everything, that is a matter of opinion - so no complaints. Thank you!
Haha thanks Mordy!
And you're right about the bardo thing, of course.
Now I am wracking my brains considering what site might be the actual NYC bardo. Will keep you posted!
"I emailed Paramount Group to ask when the project would start, and whether the new space would welcome homeless persons, and if they might provide a TV, a stage and microwave oven. I have yet to hear back."
Gee, Anne, why didn't you ask them for a hot tub while you were at it?
Right? The worst they can do is say no.
Delightful and interesting. Thanks for the survey of the public space. And the bagel images made me laugh out loud.
^What Renato said! Beautifully written piece, and I laughed so hard at the bagels... They just kept getting better!
Renato and Emily, me too! I even LOL'd the fifth and sixth times I went back to the series. So bonkers!
I think the odds are good that nobody tasked with the new atrium design did what you did so well here and actually talked to the people who use the space the most. At least it seems popular?
I've photographed quite a few POPS for a show on zoning and briefly considered doing a project documenting all of them but quickly realized that would be a really boring project - and that's coming from someone who photographs dead ends and walls for fun. Your piece has convinced me that l have to make my way back to Wall St before the Mediterranean Waffle Maker is unplugged.
Unplugging the waffle maker, haha!
Now I'm dying to know, Rob, what's your favorite NYC POP?
Though I've never actually been there, I'm going to go with 55 Water St, aka The Elevated Acre.
Never been! Thank you!
So much kindness in the piece. I loved hearing from people whose voices are all too often left out.
Thank you Jenna! I had a lot of fun!
Those bagel pictures are hysterical!! 🤣🤣 (And then the bagel turns into a monster. 😳)
A future we can all look forward to, Nick!
60 Wall Street looks a bit like the interior of an OLD Las Vegas Casino. Needs more lighting and some video poker machines around the perimeter.
Wow what a fun idea Mr. Dolan. Yes, others HAVE remarked on the olde Las Vegas vibe.
Have you seen a glass-eyed crooner there?
If I haven't I just haven't been hanging out long enough.
I really hope all the people who currently enjoy 60 Wall St get to enjoy the remodeled space. Do we know if the other 600 POPS allow homeless people to hang out? Interestingly, the second bagel pic is the most disturbing! I guess the rest are so over the top they didn’t impact me like that second one!
Courtney, most of the 600 POPs are outdoor plazas and such, so there are not many places like 60 Wall. Here is a breakdown provided by the city if you're interested:
https://www.nyc.gov/site/planning/plans/pops/pops.page
That's very funny you found the second pic the most disturbing. But I get it!
It'd be interesting to know how many of the 180 "Other" types of POPS are enclosed, climate-controlled spaces like 60 Wall Street. Love the graph under "Resources" but wish it were even more specific!
Me too Courtney. I know of a few others in Manhattan, but only a few. And I'm pretty good at knowing these things.
Another enlightening read! But my Colombian wife would never forgive me if I didn't point out that the correct spelling is Colombia not Columbia :)
Oh nooos! This is like the third time I've done this. Will fix. Thank you Alan!
LOL at the bagels! I never knew about the atrium. What a neat idea! I enjoyed reading about Bob and the others.
Thanks Bob! I'm glad you enjoyed this issue. I am still laughing at Sam's bagels.
So sad… and the quirkiness creates something to really NOTICE. Why do something bland? Bland just stops people from looking properly and noticing. I'm sure Rob Walker would agree! By the way, I LOVED your piece when you asked Rob to set you a noticing challenge but I cant find it anymore.
Thank you Hazel. And yes, I'm sure Rob would love 60 Wall Street.
Here is the story where Rob sent me the noticing assignment:
https://annekadet.substack.com/i/137737802/one-thing-at-a-time-lady-my-week-of-no-multitasking
the only realistic lox (if thats what it is supposed to be because they more resemble fluted faded cold cuts) are the limp bits hangin off the bottom of the !00ft wall of bagel sandwee round which the excitable eye-poppin minis are gathered like they just caught glimpse of Taylor Swift stepping out of a bathtub
Whoa missed this but am also noticing a number of cyclops bagels in that image as well as the fact that the main bagel towering of the city has TWO mouths and TWO sets of eyeballs!
i mean wtf is AI thinking i mean we are only SO gullible
right???!$!??
right??!
ok?
gosh darn it
f..ck it they win they can have it all the atrium the wall of trees all of it
can you do an AI of baristas? its a cool word "baristas" didnt have it as a kid
its got "rizz"