Pritzker Prize-winner Jean Nouvel’s impressive new skyscraper 53W53 has received the first of its skin, and is one step closer to transforming the Manhattan skyline. Situated at 53 West 53rd Street, the mixed-use tower will rise to 73 floors and will feature a uniquely faceted exterior with multiple tapered surfaces. The receding muscular facade typifies New York, and exemplifies the qualities that liken it to "Gotham City." The irregular structural pattern of crisscrossing beams is echoed along the facade treatment. The curtain wall consists of non-mirrored glass and painted aluminum elements, and along the tower's mechanical and ventilation areas, a secondary system of mullions and louvers adds further depth. Early in the design process, Mr. Nouvel promised the building's night-time lighting will resemble blood running through the veins of the structural diagrid.
The building will eventually be home to 145 condominium residences ranging from one-bedroom homes to duplex penthouses.
The building will eventually be home to 145 condominium residences ranging from one-bedroom homes to duplex penthouses.
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Condominiums in the building are currently for sale, and include 1-bedrooms starting from $3.15 million, 2-bedrooms starting from $6.555 million, 3-bedrooms starting from $7.655 million, and one 4-bedroom for $50.75 million. Residences are to be designed by Thierry Despont and will have oversized walnut entry doors, high cove ceilings, 4-inch wide plank solid American oak floors, custom crown molding, triple-glazed, floor-to-ceiling low-iron glass windows, and Maytag washers and dryers. Kitchens will include glass cabinetry, marble countertops and backsplashes, Miele ovens, Sub-Zero refrigerators, and GE microwaves. Baths will host Verona limestone flooring, Dornbracht polished nickel fittings, and Villeroy & Boch commodes.
Amenities inside the tower will include a private formal dining room, a lounge with Central Park views, a children’s playroom, a wine tasting room, a golf simulator, an international-specification squash court, and a lobby library with a fireplace. The tower will also host a wellness center by The Wright Fit with a sauna, steam rooms, and a massage treatment room, as well as a 65-foot lap pool, a cold plunge pool, and a hot tub with poolside vertical gardens designed by Patrick Blanc. More services will include a live-in resident manager and 24-hour doormen, concierge, and porter services. To top it all off, residents will have access to catering, pantry-stocking, housekeeping, floral delivery, pet walking, and curbside valet services for an additional fee.
Situated just west of the MoMA in Midtown West, the tower will occupy a prime Manhattan location, and even treat residents to a special Benefactor W53 membership at the museum. For reference, there are currently 547 units for sale in the area for a median price of $2.15 million, or $1,996 per square foot. The average closing price for a condo in the area this October was $1,721 per square foot, down from last October’s average closing price of $1,843 per square foot.
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Contributing Writer
Katy Cornell
Katy Cornell is a Long Island native with a passion for writing about real estate in the big city. She recently graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in English and is a frequent contributor to CityRealty's Market Insight and NYC real estate blog 6sqft.
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