Madison House. All interior photography courtesy of Nicole Franzen and Evan Joseph
With its slender profile, uplifting design, and nimble footprint, Madison House
is emblematic of the type of high-density housing New York City needs more of in central neighborhoods with good transit infrastructure and walkability to employers/amenities. The newly-finished 62-story tower makes a memorable statement on the Midtown South skyline with its unapologetic verticality, striated turquoise glass and white terra cotta skin, and a rakish crown that suggests an optimism towards the future.
Earlier this year, after five years of construction, the skyscraper officially opened its doors. The 199-unit condo tower has already racked up 57 closings in 2022, worth a total of $145 million and blending to an average price per square foot of $1,988. The venture was jointly developed by JD Carlisle Development and Fosun International Limited, and designed by Handel Architects with Gachot Studios helming the interiors. The tower's NoMad vicinity is notable for its furniture showrooms and a thriving design scene along Park and Madison Avenues. With inspirational design in easy reach, Gachot furnished the building's common spaces with the latest, most comfortable pieces that foster the warm feeling of being at home.
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With the tower now finished, photography giving us our first look at the Gachot-designed amenity spaces has been released. Said to subtly evoke a private member's club, Gachot infused the spaces with warm, understated minimalism that is rich in materiality while bestowing a soothing retreat in the heart of the city.
↓ Madison House's approximately 30,000 square feet of hotel-style amenities for wellness and leisure begin with a grand double-height granite lobby anchored by two hearths made from Calacatta Borghini.
(Evan Joseph)
↓ An eye-catching sculptural feature is encased in one of the marble pylons and welcomes guests into the residential lobby. Overhead, sculptural lighting echoes the pattern of dragonfly wings, signaling Madison House’s place in the heart of the design district.
↓ “We designed the amenities spaces at Madison House the same way we would design a private member's club. There's a balance between classic sophistication, hospitable comfort, and undeniably modern architecture. When it comes to design, our most crucial consideration is how the space will make someone feel at ease - at home.” — Christine Gachot
↓ “To take advantage of Madison House’s extraordinary height and showcase the great views, we employed generous planes of rich, natural materials and hand-applied finishes. This lush materiality brings warmth and context to the building's monumental scale.” — Christine Gachot
Lounge entrance (Credit: Nicole Franzen)
↓ The club area, with double-height ceilings, offers a comfortable place to enjoy a book or share a cocktail with friends.
↓ The oak floors, wood-paneled wet bar, and fireplaces bring to mind the elegance of historic Madison Park’s mansion living. Warm carpets, lighting, and paneling over the 12-foot doors deliver a high-design experience.
↓ In the private dining suite, a full working kitchen is rendered in custom wood millwork and large swaths of marble.
↓ “The interiors are defined by beautiful materials and measured aesthetics and a careful consideration of how one lives, how space is inhabited, and how a physical space informs a lifestyle.” -Christine Gachot
↓ "Large planes of luxurious natural materials mirror the vast expanses of glass that let in light from the city outside, marrying nature with interior living. Warm, inviting minimalist forms provide a backdrop for contemporary urban life."
↓ The conference room walls are lined in floor to ceiling upholstered paneling with walnut trim.
↓ All of the fitness and social amenities spaces feature exceptionally high ceilings and start at 150 feet above grade, providing spaces with an abundance of natural light and exceptional views.
↓ Health, wellness, and leisure amenities include a state-of-the-art exercise room, separate yoga room, and a 6th floor sports lounge with a golf simulator, billiards table and children’s playroom.
↓ The billiards room overlooks the gym; which is also sheathed in wood and mirror paneling.
Residents of Madison House have purchased into rarefied air. Propelled skyward by an amorphous lot, coupled with a plethora of unused development rights and undefined height limits, the 803-foot-tall building is Manhattan's second tallest between Midtown (30th Street) and Canal Street -- with only Fifteen Hudson Yards on the opposite end of 30th Street being taller. Thanks to a generous-scaled mechanical floors, residences being approximately 150 feet above street level with inspiring views of the city, rivers, and local landmarks starting about 250 feet up.
The building is composed of one- to four-bedroom residences including duplex penthouses with private terraces and direct elevator entry. Typical units feature 11-foot ceilings, 9-foot doors, and corner exposures. Kitchens are finished with custom rift-cut cabinetry, honed marble countertops and islands, and Gaggenau appliances. Primary suites have generous closet space and marble baths with custom vanities and platinum matte Dornbracht fixtures.
Rendering of high-floor, south-facing residence at Madison House (DBOX)
Unfortunately, towers like Madison House that accommodate a large number of units relative to their footprints are becoming harder to build in New York as ready-to-build sites become harder and more expensive to assemble in central districts. Many of the city's latest batch of towers have come to fruition by maneuvering through a variety of byzantine zoning rules, enduring years of covert land buyouts, and facing often-frivolous lawsuits from neighbors wanting to protect their own piece of the pie.
Among other chronic factors limiting housing production in the city, the exorbitant costs of developing high-density housing in the city have become embedded in market prices. In Madison House's case, the entry price for the remaining units is $2.975M. However, for those who believe in supply and demand, the tower adds 200 new units to the market, relieving pressure from areas outside of the city core and perhaps leading to fewer multi-family townhouse conversions, evictions, and families moving to car-oriented, environmentally unsustainable suburbs/exurbs.
Among other chronic factors limiting housing production in the city, the exorbitant costs of developing high-density housing in the city have become embedded in market prices. In Madison House's case, the entry price for the remaining units is $2.975M. However, for those who believe in supply and demand, the tower adds 200 new units to the market, relieving pressure from areas outside of the city core and perhaps leading to fewer multi-family townhouse conversions, evictions, and families moving to car-oriented, environmentally unsustainable suburbs/exurbs.
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