Contemporary architecture in New York. What to see

DATE

05.01.2026

From skyscrapers that feel like sculptures to public spaces that reinvent how we move through the city, every corner tells a design story. New York is not only home to great classics like the Empire State or the Chrysler Building; it is also a laboratory where leading architects are pushing the boundaries of architecture.

Let’s start with one of the most iconic giants on the skyline: 432 Park Avenue by Rafael Viñoly, the slender skyscraper that seems to touch the sky in Midtown. At first glance, its clean geometry and elegant presence on Billionaires’ Row make it a must-see for lovers of minimalist forms and high-density residential design. Very different in spirit yet equally memorable is VIA 57 West, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG). This “courtscraper,” which combines the height of a skyscraper with a European-style inner courtyard, shows how creativity can transform an entire city block into a flexible and surprising machine for urban life.

In Tribeca, the studio Herzog & de Meuron has left its mark with a tower that breaks away from the traditional monotony of the skyline. Nearby, if you’re in the mood for a different kind of walk, the High Line is an elevated park designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro that reclaims an old railway line as a vibrant green promenade—perfect for sunset photos. At its northern end, in Hudson Yards, The Vessel is another architectural highlight: designed by Thomas Heatherwick, it is a structure of interwoven staircases that feels like a giant piece of walkable art (and, after a period of closure, has reopened with new safety measures).

New York also shows how buildings can engage in dialogue with their surroundings. The Hearst Tower, with the intervention by Norman Foster, combines history and contemporaneity through a striking diagrid rising from a classical base. Another landmark worth your attention is the Oculus by Santiago Calatrava: more than a station, it is a white steel sculpture that resembles a bird taking flight at the heart of the World Trade Center transportation hub. If you’re looking for innovative green spaces, Little Island, designed by Heatherwick Studio, is a small park-island floating above the Hudson River, with nature-inspired forms and pathways that invite exploration.

To round off your list, don’t miss the new Sotheby’s headquarters in the Breuer Building, originally designed by Marcel Breuer and recently restored by Herzog & de Meuron—a perfect blend of historic brutalism and contemporary sensibility. And if you enjoy seeing different eras in conversation, 611 West 56th Street by Álvaro Siza is an elegant residential tower that shows how Portuguese architecture interprets the New York skyline from a pure and serene perspective. Each of these places is not only photogenic, but also offers a lesson in urban design, innovation and style—sure to leave you reflecting on how architecture shapes the city.

MARCH VALENCIA | ARQUITECTURA Y DISEÑO

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