Although the new major Manhattan residential projects designed by such architectural stars as Frank O. Gehry, Jean Nouvel, Herzog & de Meuron and Christian de Portzamparc gain most the press, there are some stunning new residential buildings in Brooklyn that are not less exciting even if their architects are less widely known.

One of the best new designs is the relatively modest "NV" at 101 North Fifth Street in Williamsburg. Only 7 stories high, it is nevertheless quite wide and is distinguished by its very cool acquamarine color of brushed "jade" steel" and its castellated roofline with glass railings.

The building has a few balconies but its complex façade is very nicely modulated by protruding bays and, more importantly, protruding mullions that do not extend the full height of the building.

Another excellent and very elegant design touch is that the first floor has a black façade that makes the rest of the building "float."

Karl Fischer, one of the most active architects in new developments in Brooklyn, designed the building, which was developed by Michael Morton of The Morton Group of Delray Beach, Fla.

In his long July 12, 2009 article, "The Billyburg Bust," in New York magazine, David Amsden noted that "the building is one of the most conspicuous new projects in the neighborhood, resembling something that, after failing to sell in Miami's faltering market, was airlifted and plunked down into Brooklyn."

That would have been Miami's...