What is your first thought when you look at a trash can– a dingy waste container? A space-eater? Nothing at all? Well, for architect Rafael Viñoly, a trash can is what embodies his architectural inspiration for 432 Park Avenue.

432 Park Avenue was designed after Viñoly’s admiration of a small, steel, $200 trash can, and now I argue that it defines minimalism and conventionalism in New York City architecture. Hovering 1,396 feet in the New York Skyline, 432 Park Avenue is deemed the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere. The building demonstrates a sleek concrete styled structure, that allows for the natural flow of city lighting through its’ 10′ by 10′ windows. The design is so simplistic, appearing grid-like and rather elementary, yet its impact is so riveting and unique that it leaves many in the design field speechless (or for myself, full of speech). Nonetheless, the infamous windows allow for a bold yet ascetically pleasing structure that is visible from all five boroughs of New York. From the inside looking out, the windows are extremely conventional- simply just providing light- but in a more complex sense, these windows provide an intimate connection between a lonesome silhouette in a city window to a city filled with millions of other souls.

Although Viñoly’s muse may seem as trivial as a trash can, his design plans could not have been carried out without the help of many other involved parties. Two interior designers, Kelly Behun and Deborah Berke played a large role in crafting the unique and extravagant interiors for all 104 condominiums with the use of a the same minimalist idealisms that inspired the building’s exterior. In addition, developers Harry B. Macklowe and the CIM Group had extensive contributions in overseeing the entire building progress. Most interesting to me, however, is the role of architectural engineers in the building process. How does this building, taller than the empire state building, withstand fierce weather conditions such as chilling winters or 60 mph winds? The answer lies within the daily job of Architectural Engineers.

Architectural Engineering is a field that often goes unrecognized in architecture publicity. A common misconception from the public is that Architects are responsible for all of building design. Indeed, Architects are responsible for the overall design, but engineers are what allow for the design risks to be carried out in a functional and safe way, creating invincibility in design (literally and figuratively). In particular to 432 Park Avenue, Architectural Engineers had to pay meticulous attention to certain areas such as possible environmental concerns and structural concerns. Their focus on the effect of wind on a tall skinny structure provoked designers to include a set number of open floors, that would allow wind to circulate through the large structure. In addition, an emphasis on what materials would best support this structure, helped lead to the selection of concrete to surround the numerous windows. Altogether, engineers facilitated the carrying out of Viñoly’s intricate and modernized design plans.

At the end of the day, 432 Park Avenue is one building amidst thousands of others in New York City. Its’ sleek design makes it hard to miss, but it really is just one part of a much grander picture. This architectural milestone connects world class architects and engineers like Viñoly and other unnamed contributors, to residents and working class people from all over New York City. 432 Park Avenue has an unimaginable role in connecting that dark silhouette in a tinted 10′ by 10′ window, to a perplexing city skyline; a phenomena that truly highlights the power of buildings in today’s society. Let us not forget, that the impact of this complex building in the design world and the basic New York City resident’s life would not have been possible if it weren’t for that small, steel, $200 trashcan. So next time you see a trash can, maybe your initial ideologies will be shifted … or maybe you will still just see a boring trash can.