The Merc Hotel adapts and enlarges the historic Mercantile Library of New York into a contemporary 16 story, 58 key boutique hotel. We sought to design a roof-top addition that speaks softly to the original structure - to converse rather than merge. To create a focused backdrop, an addition that solely acts like an addition. We did this by folding glass. A new glass curtain wall is first sliced at an angle top to bottom. Then the glass is folded slightly inwards for the first setback, and outwards for the second setback, creating facets that reflect the sky. These big but minimal facets guide your eye quickly down towards the more ornate, historic limestone structure below. The glass folds create a visually fast background that highlights the old yet lives on its own, a complementary contradiction.

The Merc Hotel
17 E 47th Street, NYC