A Dramatic, Dutch-Inspired Residential Tower Comes to FiDi

19 Dutch, the new 770-foot-tall glass tower in Manhattan’s Financial District, is nearing completion and will welcome residents starting July 1. The glass-clad structure, designed by GKV Architects and Colum McCartan, will introduce 483 new residences to the neighborhood, including 97 affordable housing units. And it’s the only new construction rental in FiDi.

The building’s design, according to interior designer Colum McCartan, was largely inspired by FiDi’s distinctive Dutch history, since many Dutch immigrants settled in the area in the 18th century, as well as the Dutch Golden Age. “As part of our design, we primarily reference the painters of this era and how they very accurately portrayed buildings, street scenes, [and] famous cities like Delft (home of Vermeer),” McCartan says.

“We are using these in actual hand-painted reproductions in various locations. We also [took] old etchings and drawings of Nieuw Amsterdam (old New York) and print[ed] them onto ceramic tiles in a ‘blue delft tile’ type look.” The tiles, he says, will be used to clad the front desk and various floor accents in the amenity spaces. The Golden Age painting style was also used as an inspiration for large scale wall murals, “all with a 21st century twist,” McCartan adds.

19 Dutch will boast a 19-foot lobby with raised wood paneling, blue velvet curtains, and custom-designed, Dutch-inspired elevator cabs. According to McCartan, “the Dutch is in the details.” The aesthetic was informed by gezelligheid: a Dutch word that refers to feelings of together, comfort, and relaxation among loved ones.

“These characteristics are at the heart of all our work,” says McCartan. “We design hotels and hi-rise living spaces to provide interior architecture and furnishings that—along with color, comfort and lighting ambience—support the feelings and mood of gezelligheid.”

Amenities include a club lounge and canteen with commissioned artwork on display, a media center, communal and private work spaces, a demonstration kitchen with a chef’s table, a library, children’s playroom, and a 64th floor sky lounge. The “roofscape” includes a sunroom and terrace gardens, and offers views of the Lower Manhattan skyline.

“Our goal has been to deliver a building that stands apart from the rest and introduce a culturally-inspired community within…[and] we know 19 Dutch is a leading factor in the transformation [of FiDi],” says Melanie Flaherty, Vice President of Marketing at Carmel Partners, the developer of the project.

Residences start in the low $3,000s. For more on NYC living, check out the newly completed 3 World Trade Center and Brooklyn’s new Domino Park.