Hasta La Ideas

Found by way of A Daily Dose of Architecture, here’s your chance to own a piece of “what could have been” New York starchitecture. On eBay, someone is selling a rare 20″ model of Herzog & de Meuron‘s residential skyscraper project, 56 Leonard Street, which was one of the many casualties following the collapse of the real estate market. According to the seller, there were only three hundred models built and they were originally created to give to pre-construction buyers, the media, or if you were somehow connected to the development and/or construction of the project. If you have a bunch of disposable income and collecting failed buildings is your thing, you have until Wednesday at 9:14am Pacific to snatch it up. Here’s the description given:

This model is #37/300. The model is actually 58 separately numbered lucite pieces that are anchored together by a solid lucite core that extends the entire height of the model. At the base is the Anish Kapoor sculpture that was commissioned to anchor the building. While text within the box encouraged the model to be deconstructed and reassembled, I can assure you that I never took the model apart and that every piece is in the correct order.

The box itself is adorned with numerous statements and descriptions of the building and has a form fitting foam lining that cradles the model when it is not on display. In addition to this, a pair of cotton gloves are included to be used when handling the base & pieces. A nice touch, but certainly not necessary. The box, as well as everything inside it, is in pristine mint-condition.

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