Work is nearing completion on Anish Kapoor’s reflective “bean” sculpture at the base of 56 Leonard Street, an 831-foot-tall residential skyscraper in Tribeca. The last curved sections of the amorphous work of art have finally been assembled, closing off the missing outer section facing the corner of Leonard and Church Streets. 56 Leonard Street was designed by Herzog & de Meuron and Hill West Architects and stands as one of the tallest structures in Lower Manhattan, with a distinguished massing of irregular cantilevering floors. Anish Kapoor is also known for designing Chicago’s chrome steel-plated Cloud Gate and the ArcelorMittal Orbit from the 2012 London Summer Olympics.
YIMBY’s previous update showed the sculpture design roughly halfway assembled. Work resumed recently after a long pause. The top of the bean rises slightly above the height of the cantilevering second level, while the majority of the sculpture is tucked underneath the slab and helps to form the overall bean shape.
56 Leonard Street. Photo by Michael Young
56 Leonard Street. Photo by Michael Young
56 Leonard Street. Photo by Michael Young
Photographs taken around the bean show construction barriers and metal fencing surrounding this entire corner of 56 Leonard Street. The chrome finish is being protected by a thin layer of temporary protective film. Work had halted during the pandemic, leaving the hollow interior of the bean covered with wooden boards until construction could continue. The adjacent ground-floor retail space is still available for lease.
56 Leonard Street. Photo by Michael Young
56 Leonard Street. Photo by Michael Young
56 Leonard Street. Photo by Michael Young
56 Leonard Street. Photo by Michael Young
56 Leonard Street. Photo by Michael Young
56 Leonard Street. Photo by Michael Young
YIMBY covered the arrival and assembly of the very first parts almost exactly two years ago. Read more here to see what the process looked like.
It still remains unclear when the bean will be finished, though YIMBY predicts this long-awaited milestone in 56 Leonard Street’s construction to conclude sometime next year.
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Five or so years later, and the ever-so controversial 56 Leonard Street is still being worked on. At least it gets a bit of cold Chicago spice.
Anyway! Ready for installation, and was placed in the specified position. I saw a gleaming surface, that was shiny and beautiful: Thanks to Michael Young.
You’re really annoying
No they aren’t
This sculpture seems… forced.
Per the rendering, more squashed than forced.
A beautiful grand-scale objet d’art, like the building above it. One only hopes it can withstand the elements and whatever additional abuse it will inevitably be subjected to.
Better late than never.
The ground floor space will never lease
Hoping it won’t get dull and unsightly.
I think I’ll look better in that mirror
I wonder how long it will take before it’s “scratched or tagged” with gang graffiti?! 🤔
Why the Chicago bean? It’s been fine before.
Anish Kapoor should be banned from all public “art”
A “sculpture” worthy of a five year old, from the “mind” of a gigantic fraud and hack artist, who nevertheless gets millions for his imagination-free, derivative junk. Such is the world of contemporary art.
At least it will hold the building up.