Developer Jourdan Krauss is all about getting down to work. When he met with Pritzker Prize winner Shigeru Ban in 2010 to discuss their collaboration on Tribeca’s Cast Iron House, where listings span $5.95 million to $14.95 million, he told the starchitect that he wanted private studies included in the 13-unit building.
“In today’s city, many people work from home — whether it’s full time or part time,” says Krauss, the CEO of Knightsbridge Properties. “It’s important to have space that’s set aside where they can have some peace and quiet.”
A number of luxury buildings are now incorporating dedicated home offices for their residents, reflecting a cultural shift in which people work around the clock or are self-employed. The inclusion of such spaces — either in individual units or as a shared condo amenity — gives high-flyers the ultimate luxury: an all-in-one-dwelling they barely have to leave.
At Cast Iron House, the roomy condominiums feature airy offices, some overlooking the double-height living rooms. They also boast a design perk: a white lacquer desk sculpted by Ban himself.
“It’s a luxury to have your whole world right around you and not have to go anywhere,” says Matthew Berman, a partner at design firm workshop/apd, which lent a modernist touch to the 60-unit Printing House conversion in the West Village. Select units here (prices begin at $2.1 million) boast cozy private studies of 150 square feet.
Certain buyers at the 123-unit, SLCE Architects-designed Halcyon at 305 E. 51st St., where move-ins are scheduled for July, will also have offices — some of which feature stunning city sights. Eight of the building’s three-bedroom units boast work spaces that look out to East River views through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Other notable Manhattan luxury real estate projects offer clients “flex space,” an extra room that residents can outfit to their own liking, such as an office. For instance, there’s the 161-unit, luxury Ralph Walker Tribeca conversion, where 2-bedroom units begin at $3 million. Here, a number of large floor plates leave room for extra 10-by-10 rooms that buyers can outfit as offices once they move in.
It’s similar at the nearby 169-unit River & Warren conversion in Battery Park City, where closings are slated for May. This CetraRuddy-designed project, which has asking prices from $2.45 million to over $10 million, allows for spare windowed rooms to become studies, if the buyer so chooses. The same applies at the firm’s Stella Tower conversion in Hell’s Kitchen, where units now ask $4.35 million to $13.99 million.
Beyond the pure in-home office, there’s another class of residential work spaces. If luxury developments don’t integrate offices directly into apartments, then they include stand-alone work spaces elsewhere in the buildings.
At the glassy, 191-unit 50 West high-rise in the Financial District, the third floor includes 15 private office condominiums for sale, of which nine are left. The windowed offices come at an extra cost: $496,000 to $1.6 million.
With the busy executive lifestyle comes the inability to unplug, even when corporate types jet to Miami to take time off. Just like New York, select luxury Miami buildings now include work areas in their plans. They range from business centers, like the Wall Street Trader’s Club at The Estates at Acqualina (unit prices from $3.9 million to $40 million), which boasts a conference room, to convertible space inside the home. Now for a new challenge: work/life balance.
Top photo by Bilyana Dimitrova
Room to Spare
By Heidi Mitchell
If you’re dripping in extra square footage, it’s all about the bonus room. Here are three alternative add-ons popping up in luxe homes from the Upper West Side to Greenwich.
The Home Bar
The cost: Sky’s the limit, maxeyhayse.com
The Personal Putting Green
The cost: $5,000 to $30,000, homegreenadvantage.com
The Indoor Basketball Court
The cost: Between $200 and $600 a square foot, hobbsinc.com