Pro poker player Phil Galfond got real estate watchers buzzing last week when he sold his New York penthouse that could be described as the ultimate bachelor pad. As Curbed reported, alongside the uusual amenities every luxury condo is equipped with these days, the $3.9 million property was also equipped with a massive indoor slide.
Though a slide may seem like a purely whimsical touch, its inclusion in the penthouse was prompted by an architectural dillema; in 2008, Galfond paid $3.3 million for two uncombined penthouses, one atop the other, and struggled with how best to bring them together as a seamless whole. Turrett Collaborative Architects stepped in, building the custom stainless steel slide to connect the East Village properties.
At the time of the construction, Turrett Collaborative Architects described the unique project on their website; "In this transformation, two identical 1-bedroom units, one atop the other, were combined into a duplex 2-bedroom home with the option to descend in the usual way on a new Italian-made "Rintal" stair, or more speedily, in a seated position, careening through the new double-height atrium. The half-tube stainless steel slide starts on the top floor near the office, and lands below near both the living and dining areas. The sculptural slide is housed in a newly created 18’ tall double-height space, which includes custom designed glass railings. The image of the stainless steel curves in front of the oversized window to the city beyond, to say nothing of the irrepressible glee of grown adults on the slide, is surprisingly poetic; with careful detailing, the playground element is an unexpectedly elegant addition to the space."
The slide wasn't even the only unique touch; the 2,400 square foot apartment also features a game room and a putting green on the terrace. However, it looks like the property's new owner is taking a more serious approach. According to Curbed, the new owner plans to remove the slide and donate it to charity. Galfond reportedly sold the apartment due to a United States Justice Department crackdown on online poker which has forced the pro player to leave the country.
Source and photos courtesy Curbed and Curbed Archive.
