London Terrace Towers
405 West 23rd Street, #17D

Perfectly perched on the 17th floor of London Terrace, this architect-designed apartment with a rare 1,000+ sf wrap-around terrace is a serene oasis in the heart of West Chelsea. With interiors conceived by Otherstudio Design in partnership with AR Arquitetos of São Paulo, and exterior spaces designed by Michael Trapp, the apartment presents a perfect synthesis of modern minimalist design and extraordinary outdoor space. The upper floor of this 3 bedroom/3.5 bath duplex apartment is flanked by full height blackened steel casement French doors and windows on all three exposures (South, West and North), all of which provide access to the terraces.

Other features of the apartment include fumed oak chevron flooring, lacquered wood paneling, custom lighting design, a Lutron home automation system, surround sound system with built-in speakers and automated shades. The full bathrooms feature Calacatta Manhattan slabs on the walls and sinks, Danby marble floors, Waterworks fixtures and a water filtration system. On entering the apartment, a dramatic gallery-like hallway leads the eye to a full height casement window framing the landscaped terrace and fountain beyond.

The entry foyer sets the sophisticated tone for the rest of the home with flooring of custom terrazzo, Black Marquino and Carrara marble. Adjoining the foyer is a powder room and a coat closet. Following is a secondary bedroom suite, with French doors opening onto the North terrace, wire-brushed oak closets and a windowed bathroom with a soaking tub and shower. Next is the upper floor primary bedroom, also with French doors opening onto the terrace, two walls of generous closets and an en suite bathroom with a double sink, a nickel-plated soaking tub and a separate shower.

The living and entertaining area is an open, loft-like space with three exposures (South, West and North) and multiple French doors and windows providing connectivity with the outdoor spaces. It features a wood-burning fireplace with a Black Marquino mantle. The windowed kitchen presents a striking contrast in tonality with its Black Absolute granite countertop, ebonized oak cabinetry with walnut interiors, Wolf cooktop, oven and microwave, Dacor warming drawer, Subzero refrigerator and wine cooler, Bosch dishwasher and Futuro hood.

The apartment also includes a Miele washer and dryer. Accessed from any of the French doors throughout the apartment, the terraces provide a serene respite from city life with views of the Statue of Liberty to the South, glimpses of the Hudson River to the West and of Hudson Yards and the Empire State Building to the North. A wisteria-draped pergola gives a note of privacy to the spacious outdoor dining area, while a fountain provides a soothing acoustical backdrop. The terrace is decked in bluestone-colored tiles and Ipe wood, with an Ipe backdrop and two storage sheds.

The landscape design, showcased in the book "Repose in the Metropolis: The Private Gardens of New York City", is designed to be evergreen year-round. The terraces also include a full irrigation system, two automated awnings and an outdoor shower. Descending from the living area via a steel staircase with custom terrazzo treads, one enters the sumptuous and private lower floor primary bedroom suite. This spacious bedroom looks South through two arched windows and features a pair of rare Apparatus light fixtures.

Connected to the bedroom is a spa-like bathroom with a steam shower with aromatherapy feature, and a double sink. Adjoining the bedroom is a home office (which could easily be converted to an ample walk-in closet), a separate walk-in closet and a large wall closet. London Terrace Towers is one of the most iconic full service prewar buildings in all of downtown Manhattan, offering an impressive array of amenities including a state-of-the-art fitness center, a heated indoor swimming pool, planted roof terrace, basement bike storage and a laundry room.