Credit:Scott Frances
In the Sound of Music, the von Trapp children sing So Long, Fair Well as they entertain guests from the grand staircase one last time before they head off to bed. If only we all had dramatic double staircases, surely all of our children would perform similarly. Amazingly, many luxury Manhattan residences have spectacular architectural staircases to make either wonderfully dramatic entrances or exits this holiday season. Here are a few of the most gorgeous steps in the city.
Credit:Scott Frances
This spectacular Dame Zaha Hadid-designed penthouse is on the market for $50M. This home is the definition of architectural integrity with Hadid's unique style and attention to detail. The jaw-dropping three-level penthouse is connected by a sweeping, sculptural staircase as well as a private internal elevator. In typical Zaha Hadid style, one can envision the residents of this luxurious home gliding between floors using this sinuous, sexy staircase (flowing attire mandatory).
Credit: The Corcoran Group
The first time ever on the market (just reduced to $11.8M), this sun drenched completely-renovated duplex penthouse that is the pinnacle of the Royale condominium. The home has an unparalleled standard of elegance surrounded by dramatic walls of windows showcasing astounding city, Central Park and river views. The two-stories which showcase the dramatic 19-foot ceilings are connected by the a spectacular, glass spiral staircase that floats magically and, most importantly, does not interrupt those soaring views.
Credit: Williams NY
Tribeca's highly-anticipated 45 Park Place is a brand new, 43-story residential building developed by Soho Properties with architecture by Michel Abboud of SOMA Architects and featuring interiors by Piero Lissoni—the art director for major Italian brands and sought-after worldwide to design luxury interiors for hotels, restaurants, yachts and private residences. The property is crowned by two signature penthouse duplexes featuring undulating sculptural staircases that are true Lissoni originals.
Credit: Courtesy Related-Oxford
Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Rockwell Group, Fifteen Hudson Yards is the Hudson Yards site’s first tower with for-sale residences. It offers a collection of 285 one- to four-bedroom condominium residences paired with a suite of all-encompassing lifestyle amenities and services that come with living at Hudson Yards. The highlight of Penthouse 88B is a gorgeous glass staircase with handsome oak treads.
Credit: Noe & Associates with The Boundary
Waterline Square, the five-acre, three-tower development designed by Richard Meier, Rafael Viñoly, and KPF on Manhattan's Upper West Side, offers one of the most comprehensive amenity programs in all of New York City. The Waterline Club, the development's 100,000-square-foot amenity center, features everything from an indoor tennis court to indoor rock climbing wall to gardening studio to massive children's playroom. The entrance of the Waterline Club features a custom pedestrian bridge and staircase that commands the room. This sculptural, one-of-a-kind masterpiece is the centerpiece of the Club, connecting all three condominium towers and carrying residents to the unprecedented amenity oasis.
Credit: Courtesy of 56 Leonard
Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the grand staircase at 56 Leonard connects the 9th and 10th floors of amenities. This unique staircase combines high-design with functionality, offering residents a unique way to move throughout the amenity spaces of the building.
Image Credit: Evan Joseph
Standing at 777 feet tall, Madison Square Park Tower is the tallest residential building between Midtown and Lower Manhattan. With interiors by the preeminent London-based hospitality designer Martin Brudnizki, known for his work on high-profile hotels and private clubs, including the decadent redesign of Annabel’s in London and the Soho Beach House in Miami Beach, the building's lobby includes a stunning multi-level library with seating areas that surround a bronze-and-wood detailed custom spiral staircase, which leads to a book-lined mezzanine with selections that were carefully curated by the building’s developer. The double-height, wood-paneled sanctuary overlooks a bijou garden by Oehme Van Sweden.
Courtesy of 20 East End Avenue
Situated in the East End enclave of the Upper East Side, 20 East End Avenue is a luxury condominium designed inside and out by the renowned Robert A.M. Stern Architects. The exquisite building boasts sweeping city and river views, in addition to a variety of club-inspired amenities that are connected by a grand architectural spiral staircase. Spanning 37 feet, this Robert A.M. Stern-designed closed stringer staircase looks like it was transported from a stately New York townhouse. Inspired by the 1920s designer William Delano, of the Beaux-Arts-inspired firm Delano & Aldrich, the staircase features a forged steel and bronze railing and Portuguese limestone treads covered in grey silk carpeting. Illuminating this signature staircase is a three-tiered custom-designed steel and bronze chandelier.
Credit: Christian Horan
30 Park Place Four Seasons Private Residences & Hotel New York Downtown, developed by Silverstein Properties and designed by world-renowned architect Robert A.M. Stern, offers 157 ultra-luxury condominiums, including a penthouse selection of 11 half- and full-floor homes. 30 Park Place also features nearly 40,000 square feet of amenities, as well as a full suite of hotel services, all managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. The Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown sits below the private residences at 30 Park Place. Occupying the first 24 floors of the tower and known for its five-star services, experiences, and amenities, The Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown features interiors by famed hospitality duo, Yabu Pushelberg. Making a bold statement, the grand staircase that leads from the lobby to upstairs is one of the focal points of the property. Accessible to 30 Park Place residents, owners may use the secret door that is tucked within the condo lobby, allowing ease between the two spaces without ever having to go outside.
Credit: The Corcoran Group
This exquisite 25 foot wide mansion (asking $39M) is located on one of the most prestigious tree-lined blocks on the Upper East Side, just off 5th Avenue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Commissioned in 1895 by Daniel Hennessy, the home was designed by renowned architect Henry Andersen, as a private residence for Ellen Prentice Kellogg. Complementing the impressive neoclassical exterior, the equally impressive interior has a stunning staircase accented in artistic wrought iron designs.
Credit: The Corcoran Group
This 45 foot wide Grand Maisonette in the West Village, asking$15.5M, was meticulously renovated by renowned Architectural Digest 100 architect and designer David Mann. The sprawling home has exquisitely designed spaces for the modern lifestyle. Clad in opulent Gregio Carnico marble, the home’s grand hall opens to a signature marble staircase with dramatic soaring ceilings, leading to the enormous great room – an exceptional setting for dining, entertaining, and intimate daily living alike.
Credit: The Corcoran Group
Completed in 2018 by architect-developer Barrett Design, 96 & 98 Degraw Street are two contemporary townhouses (asking $4.5M, each) located in the heart of the Columbia Waterfront District. These magnificent sun-filled homes feature off street parking, four bedrooms, three and a half baths, and dramatic roof decks where you’ll savor panoramic sunset views over the NY Harbor, Governor’s Island, and Lower Manhattan. Their sculptural, oak staircase leads to four sunny bedrooms, an office or play space, and three full baths.