Revolutionary Move by BIG in Harlem Shocks City Planners: 100-Year-Old Zoning Law Gets a Major Makeover!

The BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group has done it again with their latest project, The Smile, a mixed-use residential development in the heart of Harlem. The stunning building combines affordable housing units with market-rate rentals, and its design is turning heads for all the right reasons. Not only is it a beautiful addition to the vibrant Harlem streetscape, but it's also shaking things up by reinterpreting a 100-year-old zoning law.

In 1912, the Equitable Building in Lower Manhattan was built without any setbacks, causing major issues with light and air reaching the streets. As a result, the landmark 1916 Building Zone Resolution was created, enforcing the construction of "stepped façade" towers to ensure that light and air could reach the streets below. BIG has taken this resolution and created a stunning interpretation in The Smile, with its scalloped façade that gently curves inwards between two existing buildings.

The Smile is BIG's first collaboration with Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG), and it's a project that's truly making waves. The 260,000-square-foot residential building boasts 233 units, with a third of those reserved for affordable housing. The apartments have been designed with a minimal palette of warm wooden interiors, and residents will have access to fantastic amenities including a gym, wet spa and sauna, coworking spaces, and rooftop pools.

What's particularly striking about The Smile is its unique form, which transforms from a traditional block at street level to one side cantilevering over an existing commercial building. The design allows locals to enjoy and inhabit the space over the commercial offices previously left unbuilt, creating visual connections between the two streets and forming a more cohesive neighbourhood experience. The Smile is a building that's not just beautiful, but functional too.

The building's façade gently slopes inwards along 126th Street, deviating from the hard, linear street edge in an elegant gesture that creates a curved "smile" when viewed from above. The curve allows the building to fit within the allowable zoning envelope while also bringing ample daylight into the residential streets. It's a clever reinterpretation of the 1916 Building Zone Resolution that's turning heads in the architecture world.

The Smile is a building that's all about community, and that's clear from the design choices made by BIG and BDG. The affordable housing units are a fantastic addition to the building, and they've been designed with the same care and attention as the market rate rentals. The amenities on offer are also designed to bring people together, with coworking spaces and rooftop pools offering fantastic opportunities for socializing and networking.

All in all, The Smile is a stunning addition to the Harlem streetscape that's turning heads and breaking new ground. Its unique design is a clever reinterpretation of a 100-year-old zoning law, and its focus on community and affordable housing makes it a building that's truly making a difference. It's a project that's sure to inspire other architects and developers, and it's exciting to think about what BIG will come up with next.