Seagram’s Building—The proportions of the plaza are perfect
Not only is Mies Van der Rhoe’s building a classic example of corporate architecture, the plaza is a great example of how thoughtful design strategies can create beautiful privately owned public space that actually can influence New York zoning codes. By setting back the building 100 feet from the street, Mies was able to eliminate those nasty wedding cake setbacks that you often see in Manhattan skyscrapers. Instead. now you have an efficient rectangular floor plan that maximizes the most square footage for the tenant, which of course the developer will be happy about. Additionally, by setting back the building from Park Ave, you give back to the city a large open space for its users to occupy. In response to the Seagram building, New York modified its zoning codes in the 1960’s, offering developers incentives if they implemented privately owned public spaces.
