611 West 56th Street

This residential tower is the first building by the Portuguese architect in the country. It rises on the west side of the island, close to the river, among a mix of older brick blocks and newer glass towers.

The slender volume holds around 80 apartments over some 35 floors. A pale stone skin wraps the facades, cut by horizontal bands of windows that turn the corners, and the top floors step out in a cantilever that gives the tower a distinct crown.

Inside, the apartments are planned around long views across the city and the water, with timber joinery in kitchens and storage. The architect also designed parts of the lobby, carrying the same restraint from the street to the upper floors.