The architects behind Cast Iron House, a major adaptive re-use project in the heart of Tribeca, are known for ground-up buildings. Won through a competitive process, the concept was to make the original 1882 cast iron building feel like another world far away from New York City. Part gut renovation and part new construction, the architects worked with discipline and a large consultant team to transform the building from commercial to residential use. New architecture includes a two-story addition to the registered New York City Landmark on the National Registry of Historic Places as a prime example of ornate, 19th century cast iron architecture and façade design. Establishing a thoughtful, calming sense of place was central to the team’s design ethos by taking a qualitative over quantitative approach to design. From daylit below-grade amenities to open floor plans and kitchens, from the street and to the penthouse, Cast Iron House delivers a continuity of style that effortlessly balances the building’s historic magnificence with light, comfortability, and flexibility. A developer-led project that took ten years to complete, this also represents how top-tier levels of care, intention, and creativity can transform old building for new purposes, such as offices into homes.
Project facts
Location New York, NY
Architect Shigeru Ban Architects
Architect of Record Dean Maltz Architect
Restoration Architect Higgins Quasebarth & Partners
Year 2021
Category Cultural
AIANY Recognition
2025 AIANY Design Awards