Expansive Views and a Full Rooftop Terrace Highlight Zaha Hadid NYC Penthouse

Utmost privacy and incomparable style characterize every aspect of the triplex penthouse atop the Zaha Hadid-designed 520 West 28th Street building in New York City.The spacious 5-bedroom home encompasses 6,853 square feet and is the crowning residence of Hadid’s first project in New York –also one of her last before her unexpected death in 2016. The architecturally complex building sits in a prime location along the city’s High Line — a 1.5-mile-long elevated park on a former railroad track — in the West Chelsea neighborhood. It is currently listed for sale at $50 million.

Expansive views are a major feature of the residence.
Expansive views are a major feature of the residence.

The views from the residences in the building are a major feature and nowhere is this truer than in the triplex penthouse. With iconic silhouettes out every window, from the High Line to the Whitney Museum in the Chelsea neighborhood, and the New York City skyline beyond in every direction, there is no bad view.

The open plan living space makes the most of the windows and plentiful natural light.
The open plan living space makes the most of the windows and plentiful natural light.

Spectacular 11-foot floor to ceiling glass windows let in ample light and provide stunning city views in three directions: North, South and East. They give all parts of the apartment a light and airy feeling, open to the city at large. Flooded with daylight, the long open-plan space is versatile and ideal for entertaining friends and family. A separate entry elevator ensures privacy for the residents and an interior elevator spirits those inside between the three floors of the home with ease.

In addition to the internal elevator, the residence features a unique three-story staircase that is also a dramatic piece of sculpture. Designed by Hadid herself, the staircase echoes the sinuous forms of the building’s exterior and shuns the usual sharp angles, much as the building’s facade does. In fact, the face of the building is hand-crafted from 900 steel panels in an homage to the Chelsea neighborhood’s industrial past and New York’s architectural history.

Floor-to-ceiling corner windows offer spectacular views.
Floor-to-ceiling corner windows offer spectacular views.
The staircase was designed by Hadid herself.
The staircase was designed by Hadid herself.

“Each apartment at 520 West 28th was designed with bespoke millwork at its center that continues the geometries of the building’s facade. These hand-crafted pieces are unique to every residence, individually designed and finished for their particular location and function. Within the penthouse, this centerpiece is manifest as the sculptural staircase that extends all three floors, connecting its interior with the large outdoor terrace. An evolution of the flowing spiral staircases within Zaha Hadid’s cultural buildings, this staircase is designed with multiple perspectives that engage perception and draw the eye from the horizontal to vertical—uniting the penthouse’s three levels with the fluid design language of the building’s facade,” says Johannes Schafelner, Project Director at Zaha Hadid Architects

A neutral palette and sleek cabinetry are good choices for an urban kitchen.
A neutral palette and sleek cabinetry are good choices for an urban kitchen.

The fifth bedroom is located adjacent to a very stylish eat-in kitchen designed by Zaha Hadid in collaboration with Boffi. The space features a white color palette and sleek cabinetry devoid of hardware or fussy features and a full range of Gaggenau appliances. It’s a cook’s dream in a modern, minimalist package that offers great views too.

The 11-story development houses 39 unique residences and boasts an array of luxury amenities that include an automated valet that tends to residents’ vehicles while parking and retrieving cars on call. The building also has one of the world’s first private IMAX theatres with a 12-seat theatre, where residents can access the full IMAX library. The building also features a wellness level with a 75-foot sky-lit pool, full gym, and 24-hour juice bar. The spa suite includes a hot tub, rain showers, treatment beds, plunge pool, sauna, and steam room.

Of course, advanced home automation capabilities are a central feature and automated storage that is incorporated was inspired by the design of a Swiss bank vault.

The bedrooms are suites with their own bathrooms.
The bedrooms are suites with their own bathrooms.

The home’s master bedroom occupies a grand corner in the lower level and features a delightful private balcony, a full dressing room for storage and ease of daily preparation, and dual bathrooms for a busy couple. Also on the lower level, three additional bedroom suites provide rooms for more family members or guests, making each one a private and highly functional space.

Home office space is functional and attractive with the views.
Home office space is functional and attractive with the views.

The middle floor of the home serves as the entertainment level and has a library, guest powder room, and a 1,250 sq. ft. great room. The large open space features two corners, a private balcony and a fireplace, which is highly desirable in the Northeast. Space for a home office is also included and is ideal for getting work done.

The full rooftop area is unusual and very desirable.
The full rooftop area is unusual and very desirable.

At the very top, a very exciting feature is the 2,552 sq. ft. of exterior space that cap off the penthouse. This includes a terraced garden and a veranda that wraps around the entire roof and, complete with an outdoor kitchen. This is a covetable outdoor space in any place, but in New York City is a truly spectacular part of the apartment. While the space will likely see its most use during the warmer months of the year, the rooftop is a wonderful spot for enjoying the city’s skyline all year round. For families, the rooftop is also an ideal private outdoor playspace for children.

Manhattan has endless entertaining, shopping and dining opportunities and the location of 520 West 28th puts the building smack in the middle of the West Side’s revitalization. The Whitney was relocated to Chelsea a few years ago and Hudson Yards—the city’s largest development since Rockefeller Center — is nearing completion and will add many more options for cultural activities, dining and shopping.