Designed by Japanese-born luminary Shigeru Ban, this West Chelsea penthouse is lofty in design, sophisticated in style, and inviting in ambience, with bespoke interior design that creates an organic groundedness in a space otherwise virtually ethereal.
When bestowing the Pritzker Architecture Prize on Japanese-born luminary Shigeru Ban in 2014, the jury said of their esteemed colleague, “Where others might take a tested path, he sees the opportunity to innovate. He is…not only a role model for a younger generation, but also an inspiration.” With its effortless open spaces, glorious natural light, subtly minimalist sensibility, impressive outdoor space—nearly equal in square footage to the home’s interiors—and spectacular sweeping views from nearly every vantage point, his captivating West Chelsea residence serves as a prime example of Ban’s exhilarating unconventional aesthetic. Handsome honed oak floors—found throughout—and bespoke interior design by the lauded Andre Mellone create a serene sense of organic groundedness in a space otherwise in many ways ethereal.
Addressing both form and function, the 3,300-square-foot interiors are simultaneously novel in design, sophisticated in style, and inviting in ambience. The lofty drama—perhaps a nod to the neighborhood’s airy, industrial-origin galleries—begins in a spectacular great room with soaring ceilings and two 20-foot-tall banks of windows with iconic cityscape outlooks. In a delightfully unconventional turn, the north-facing glass wall pivots vertically to create a nearly seamless indoor-outdoor flow to one of two terraces, where both landscaping and sparkling silhouettes entertain the eye.
Sleek, streamlined, and efficiently stylish, the kitchen—just off the great room—features crisp white Corian countertops, an island, superior-caliber appliances, and abundant storage. A den or family room ideal for more intimate, casual moments adjoins; the proximity of a discreet bath affords the ability to adapt this space to serve as an auxiliary bedroom.
While two guest bedrooms with en suite baths are conveniently located on the main level—one enjoys terrace access—the upper level is dedicated entirely to the owner’s suite, which includes a bedroom with uninterrupted vistas and lovely light; a study or library overlooking the living spaces below; a lustrous marble bath with a shower and a soaking tub; and a boutique-caliber walk-in closet. Both the bedroom and the bath open to private terraces. A whimsical spiral staircase winds beside built-in bookshelves toward an idyllic rooftop deck with an alfresco kitchen, abundant mature plantings, and an enviable view of the Hudson River and the enveloping skyline.
Ban designed not only this home but the entire building, which comprises only nine residences. Its quintessential eponymous motorized metal shutters are a hallmark of the architect’s trademark style, which like much forward-thinking design, walks a tightrope between utmost discretion and an appreciation of the natural world and its ever-vitalizing light.
