In the press

At 53 West 53rd, the wine vault is designed by revered French architect Thierry Despont; residents can purchase space, and an octagonal, double-height wine room nearby can be used for tastings and private suppers. 

Demand for luxury property is sky on New York's Billionaires' Row. Paula Newton gets a tour of a $20 million listing in the building 53 West 53rd and gets a sense of what's driving high-end sales.

At 53 West 53 ($3.35 million to $64.7 million) in Midtown Manhattan, residents enjoy “hidden door” access to 53, an Asian concept from Altamarea Group located beneath the Museum of Modern Art’s new extended wing. The building also offers wine and sake tastings led by the restaurant’s wine director, Nikki Ledbetter, in a room designed by Thierry Despont with gold leaf ceiling accents. For those who are socially tapped out, meals can be transported to residences through the building’s central core.

Sales of luxury homes in Manhattan jumped in November, countering fears that the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor would drive out wealthy residents.

Buyers signed contracts on 176 homes in Manhattan priced at $4 million or more in November, up 25% from the 141 deals inked the month prior, according to appraiser Miller Samuel Inc. and brokerage Douglas Elliman. That included condos at The 74 on the Upper East Side and at 53 West 53rd St. on Billionaires’ Row, which were purchased for roughly $24 million each.

Buyers inked deals for 19 homes in the borough asking $4 million or more between Nov. 24 and Nov. 30, according to Olshan Realty’s weekly report. The total was down from 29 contracts signed in the previous period, but it beat the decade norm of 17 pending deals logged during the holiday week. A sponsor unit at 53 West 53rd Street, asking $23 million, was the priciest to snag a signed contract in the holiday week. The condo spans 3,700 square feet and has three bedrooms and three bathrooms and features views of Central Park. 

“In our experience, many New Yorkers who relocated to Florida during the pandemic soon realised they missed the energy and culture of the city,” says Renee Micheli, sales director at 53 West 53, a Jean Nouvel-designed 82-floor Midtown tower above MoMA which recorded NYC’s highest-value sale — $46mn — for the first week of October. “Our data shows that nearly half of all Floridian real estate investments in New York last year, about $141mn, went into high-end properties.”

A hefty deal is in the works at a condo tower next to the Museum of Modern Art.

Unit 65 at 53 West 53rd Street, asking just under $47 million, was the priciest Manhattan home to land a signed contract last week, according to Olshan Realty’s weekly report. 

The home has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. It also features a corner great room and views of Central Park. Amenities in the 161-unit tower include a concierge, fitness center, lap pool and golf simulator.

If you’re a billionaire in the Big Apple, you don’t need to share an iconic view with the masses. You can be hundreds of feet above everyone else in this sky-high, 7,455 sq ft penthouse, on the 78th and 79th floors of 53 West 53.

The 82-storey building designed by Jean Nouvel with interiors by Thierry Despont, takes in a tick list of NYC’s most recognisable landmarks, including the Chrysler Building, One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Center, while Central Park unfurls beneath you. It all comes with a $64.73 million price tag.

Further uptown, 53 West 53, designed by French architect Jean Nouvel with custom interiors by Thierry Despont, is home to 145 light-filled units and the contemporary Asian restaurant 53 NYC. The eatery’s wine director, Nikki Ledbetter, says she hosts a dedicated contingent of regulars from the building, many with whom she works one-on-one as part of her job.

This sprawling unit in the 82-story tower soaring above New York’s Museum of Modern Art is seeking a buyer. Located within 53 West 53 at 53 W. 53rd St. — the spiked, supertall condo building that was completed adjacent to MoMA in 2020 — residence 17B offers over 4,200 square feet of starchitect-designed indoor space, plus an 800-square-foot private terrace, according to Robb Report. 

The so-called “manor above the MoMA” is appropriately decked out with museum-quality finishes throughout, including soaring 10-foot ceilings and wall-to-wall windows with motorized solar shades. Other highlights include the windowed breakfast room, which opens up to a custom kitchen that’s equipped with polished statuary marble countertops, a marble backsplash, back-painted glass cabinetry, Dornbracht fixtures, and top-of-the-line appliances. There’s also a windowed study off the great room that provides access the terrace.

Condo buildings like 53 West 53 in Manhattan also partner with med spas to offer at-home luxury services. Celebrity-beloved facialist Aida Bicaj offers spa services at this luxury building either in the property’s treatment room or their own condo. 

The New York building amenity competition escalates with 53 West 53, a luxurious tower boasting partnerships for exclusive perks like gourmet groceries and salon services. The latest addition is a partnership with renowned skincare expert Aida Bicaj, offering residents access to her services in a dedicated spa treatment room within the Wellness Center or through in-residence appointments. The collaboration aims to provide personalized skincare services conveniently to residents, highlighting the rarity of having a world-class skincare expert just an elevator ride away. This exclusive partnership adds a new level of luxury and convenience to the residential experience at 53 West 53, enhancing the allure of upscale living in New York City.

Located on the 76th and 77th floors of a modern condo tower above the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown Manhattan, Penthouse 76 is a luxurious duplex penthouse designed by Fox-Nahem Associates in collaboration with Elle Decor. The building, 53 West 53, offers unique floor plans and high-end finishes, including American oak floors, radiant-heat floors in bathrooms, and custom designer lighting. The penthouse features a private elevator, double-height ceilings, a gas fireplace, and expansive Central Park views. The lower level includes a lounge with a custom bar, while the upper level houses the primary bedroom suite with stunning park views, a dressing room, and a luxurious en-suite bathroom. Additionally, the condo offers amenities like a wellness center, lap pool, sauna, golf simulator, private screening room, and more.

Featured among several of the world’s most exceptional starchitect-designed homes for sale, Penthouse 76 is a palatial four-bedroom duplex residence within Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel’s 53 West 53 in New York City. Standing as the 10th tallest building in the city upon its completion in 2019, the tower’s intersecting concrete beams are a defining feature of the structure. Penthouse 76 features interior architecture by the renowned Thierry Despont and boasts a double-height living room offering expansive views across Central Park from the 76th and 77th floors of 53 West 53. The property is not only adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art but is also a brief stroll away from the opulent boutiques of Fifth Avenue, making it a pinnacle of luxury living and architectural brilliance.

53 West 53 has unveiled a luxurious new duplex penthouse at the iconic building, which rises 1,050 feet above street level and is positioned next to the Museum of Modern Art. This "jewel box in the sky" spans the 76th and 77th floors, offering 7,973 square feet of space, including four bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Highlighted features within this lavish residence include the 22-foot ceiling living room with Central Park Views, an 11-foot-wide limestone-clad gas fireplace, and a windowed chef's kitchen. Furnished by Joe Nahem of Fox-Nahem Associates in collaboration with Elle Decor, the interiors of Penthouse 76 blend the works of emerging artisans with high-end brands to create an elegant, artful, and livable space.

Luxury condo developers have recently prioritized wine-related amenities, such as hiring specialists, organizing private tastings, and offering ritzy storage options for wine collections. These offerings cater to residents' desire for immediate access to wine and social opportunities within their buildings. The trend reflects an investment in enhancing residents' lifestyles, particularly in luxury buildings where residents can afford such luxuries. The pandemic has also accelerated this trend, with more emphasis on creating home experiences that include sophisticated wine experiences. At 53 West 53, residents have access to a double-height, octagonal-shaped tasting room with custom tables, a gold leaf ceiling, cork flooring, decorative wine cabinets, and private temperature-controlled wine vaults. The developers have partnered with Morrell Wines, a true New York City institution, to offer residents consultations, specialized wine vault and liquor curation, first access to rare vintages, restocking services, and private tastings.

The ELLE DECOR Penthouse at 53 West 53 is a luxurious 7,973-square-foot apartment designed by Joe Nahem, perched on the 76th floor of a striking residential tower in Manhattan. The building, designed by architect Jean Nouvel, features a unique exposed diagrid structure, providing unobstructed views of Central Park and the city skyline. The interiors, crafted by Thierry Despont, boast elegant details such as oak paneling, marble accents, and bespoke brass hardware. Residents also enjoy access to amenities like a pool, private lounge, library, wine room, squash court, wellness center, and movie theater. Close to renowned cultural and entertainment venues, living at 53 West 53 offers a sophisticated lifestyle in the heart of New York City's Billionaire's Row. With its sleek design, luxurious interiors, and extensive amenities, the building offers a chic and high-end living experience for those seeking the pinnacle of urban sophistication.

Penthouse 76 at 53 West 53, a supertall residential tower in Manhattan known for its striking architecture by Jean Nouvel and connection to the Museum of Modern Art, offers a rare glimpse into sky-high luxury living. The duplex penthouse comprises 7,973 square feet across the 76th and 77th floors of the building and boasts four bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Furnished by Fox-Nahem Associates in collaboration with ELLE Decor, Penthouse 76 includes a private interior elevator, a double-height great room with Central Park views, a limestone-clad gas fireplace, and features furniture and artworks by renowned designers and local artisans. The home’s formal dining room, kitchen, and primary bedroom exhibit a blend of luxury and functionality, with one-of-a-kind vintage and custom elements surrounded by panoramic views.

Designed by architect Jean Nouvel, 53 West 53 has unveiled a luxurious wine room for its residents, designed by Thierry Despont. The wine room features an octagonal shape, a tasting area, lounge, and 34 temperature-controlled vaults adorned with leather, metallic bronze accents, and gold leaf-covered ceilings. The space also includes custom furniture, ornamental wine cabinets, and a catering kitchen for private events. Residents can purchase and design their own vaults, with sizes ranging from 20 to 80 square feet. 53 West 53 has partnered with Morrell Wine to offer residents exclusive perks such as access to rare vintages and hand delivery services.