40 Bleecker, Ryan Korban’s First Residential Building, Is a Study in Contrasts
Ryan Korban’s name is synonymous with an imaginative yet refined approach to high-end retail and residential spaces. The wunderkind designer counts Alexander Wang, Aquazzura, and Balenciaga among his impressive roster of A-list clients, but decided to chart new territory with his first-ever luxury real estate commission. Broad Street Development recently tapped Korban to outfit interiors at 40 Bleecker, a 61-unit residential building by Rawlings Architects slated for completion in 2019.
Korban’s expertise at seamlessly combining luxe materials and old-world textures is one of 40 Bleecker’s most defining qualities. Honed statuary marble and dove gray terrazzo flooring immediately set the tone in reception, which features suede-paneled and Beauval limestone walls. Statuary marble also clads two custom sofas—perched atop a silk rug—that gather around the bronze-lined fireplace in black marble. A plaster and wrought iron chandelier by Eric Schmitt, one of Korban’s most treasured product designers, presides overhead. (It’s a familiar scene for some: he recreated 40 Bleecker’s sales gallery at Collective Design 2018).
“I usually start with one material and push myself to use it in unexpected ways,” says Korban. “I always try to blend old and new, or bring something traditional into a modern setting.” It’s an apt metaphor for 40 Bleecker, designed to attract an increasingly discerning generation of residents who seek luxury and elegance in a modern setting. The aim, in his words, is “Uptown meets Brutalism.”
Designing around this new paradigm saw Korban leverage his expertise with traditional elements and hard materials to address both large- and small-scale needs of future residents, a challenge he welcomed with gusto. “I really had to consider how people lead their everyday lives,” says Korban. “I became obsessed with aspects of the design like the medicine cabinet because I knew this would be the first thing people touch every morning. It needs to be perfect.”
Each residence boasts substantial window banks that bring lush landscaping, which includes a 5,600-square-foot courtyard garden by Hollander Design, within eyeshot. Inside, Miele appliances complement sculptural cantilevered kitchen islands, Italian cerused oak cabinetry, and Listone Giordano French Oak chevron flooring sourced from recycled wine barrels. Amenities are also aplenty: not only does 40 Bleecker provide a white-glove concierge service and state-of-the-art exercise room, but residents can also access an indoor 57-foot swimming pool.
What’s next for Korban aside from residential and commercial projects? He’s designing a custom furniture line and releasing a monograph through Rizzoli, out in September.
