Unless you are flush with cash, buying a condo in New York City is a matter of what you can afford, not what looks best. However, for the rich and famous, there are some incredible condos with beautiful designs. These condos are luxurious within and striking on the outside, making them the envy of people the world over.
For those of us interested in architecture, it doesn’t matter what we can or can’t afford. These prestigious condos are great to see and study. We’ll take a look at 5 of the most beautiful NYC condos. But first, what exactly does it mean to own a condo?
Condo Ownership
There is often confusion over the difference between a condo and an apartment. The main difference is in ownership. An investor or firm owns an apartment building and rents out units. Condos, on the other hand, are units owned by individuals within a building.
A condo owner owns everything within their own walls. Therefore a condo insurance policy should include any internal structures but excluding the building itself. The owner has access to other parts of the building and pays a monthly fee to the condo board.
As such, if you own a condo in the following buildings, you buy the unit but still pay significant fees for upkeep of the building as well as the use of shared areas. It is always going to be expensive to own a unit in a prestigious building for this reason, even if you were to inherit it.
Now, here are 5 NYC condos with incredible designs.
#1 - 15 Central Park West
This posh building overlooking Central Park does not have the most innovative design. Rather, it is its classic look that attracted enough attention to break records in its first week of sales. Of course, the location doesn’t harm its desirability.
With classic stone facades and interiors, the two-building condo is extremely prestigious. It has many amenities as well, which account for a significant proportion of the monthly fees.
Units in this condo start at $6.4 million and rise to $57 million.
The Woolworth Tower Residences, 2 Park Place
Looking for something a bit more… gothic? The Woolworth Tower Residences is a condo that was built in the early twentieth century. Architect Cass Gilbert based the design on Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Owning a unit in this building means your home will always draw the attention of lovers of architecture.
To live in this building, you will pay between $7 million and $59 million for a unit.
#5 - 15 Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards is striking for an entirely different reason. This curved glass building is incredibly modern in design. In fact, it looks almost futuristic. The luxury units within all have incredible vistas.
Compared to the previous condos, a unit in Hudson Yards is actually quite cheap, starting at $3 million and reaching $20 million. In contrast, for those looking for a more historic option, the Hudson Tea Building, which was originally built in the early 1900s has since been converted into luxury condos and offers a unique blend of old-world charm and modern amenities, with prices ranging from $800,000 to $5 million.
The Four Seasons Private Residences, 30 Park Place
Sharing a block with the Woolworths Tower (and certainly not to be mistaken with a landscaping business), this Four Seasons has a gorgeous jazz-age design. Opulent and flush with great amenities, owners also have access to services from the adjoining Four Seasons Hotel.
You can get a unit starting at $2 million and reaching $45 million.
Waterline Square, 30 Riverside Boulevard
The three crystalline structures that make up Waterline Square were designed by Richard Meier, the KPF firm, and Rafael Viñoly. The units are as beautiful as the views, and the building is one of the most striking in the city. The amenities are also top notch.
Units in Waterline Square range from $2 million to $4.2 million.
