515 W 18th St

Lantern House

Looking down through one of the distinctive barreled Bay windows from the tenth floor of the Lantern House, the movement of people walking along the High Line is clearly visible. The High Line, the popular, nearly mile-and-a-half public park built on an elevated rail line, is literally a central piece of the Lantern House; the building’s glass-lined lobby passes directly underneath, with a textured metal roof connecting the two towers that form the residences on either side. If the immediate visibility of an endless stream of High Line pedestrians is somewhat shocking, so too is the visual prominence of One High Line, the curved pair of luxury condo buildings designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, that occupies a large portion of the view from the Lantern House’s 22-story western tower — something that elicits strong reactions from visitors at first sight. Built in 2020, the Lantern House was designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the British designer behind The Vessel sculpture at Hudson Yards and Little Island. The complex’s grey brick exterior was meant to summon the style of old New York warehouses, while the protruding windows, which resemble barrels or maybe stacked grenades, take their cues from British Victorian homes. While the building’s style and views can be divisive, a more interesting vantage point is delivered atop the 10-story eastern tower, where, from the roof patio it’s possible to see the Empire State Building, the Edge and the Freedom Tower — all at once. Lantern House’s 181 units include one to four-bedroom residences with interiors by March & White. Two color palettes, cocoa and caramel, influence the flooring and ribbed cabinetry, and appear on alternating floors. High-end finishes and built-ins have been carefully considered, including kitchens with hidden wine refrigerators and islands containing microwaves. All units have washer/dryers and ceilings just under 11 feet, with the convex shape of the windows seeming to add square footage. Floorplans differ between floors and buildings, with more space provided for units in the west tower. A four-bedroom in the west tower with en suite bathrooms and views of the Hudson River might cost $6.5 million. A three-bedroom penthouse in the east tower with a private roof terrace, one of four penthouses with private outdoor space, costs $7.8 million. The west tower contains Lantern House’s generous amenities, including a 75-foot pool, and both a cold plunge and hot tub, overlooked by the yoga studio and well-equipped fitness facility. A Pilates reformer room is adjoined by an astroturf-lined exterior space, allowing for indoor and outdoor workouts, and residents can unwind using the infrared and traditional saunas or by booking a massage in a private treatment room. On the third floor, a creatively designed children’s playroom is a resident favorite, featuring a cool tactile glitter wall, built-in toys and an attached outside play space. Residents also can take advantage of the lounge behind the lobby, curling up by the fireplace in colder months, or ducking into the neighboring game room for community events and watch parties that happen throughout the year. Lantern House also has two coveted in-building features: a trendy Italian restaurant, Cucina Alba from chef Adam Leonti, and a basement parking garage. Parking spaces are leased through a third party. Lantern House’s placement along the High Line, at West 18th Street, secures its spot in the desired West Chelsea neighborhood. The Chelsea Piers sports complex is less than a block directly west, fronted by the Hudson River Greenway, which invites runners, walkers and cyclists along its extensive path. Nightly music and comedy can be seen at City Winery, less than a 10-minute walk away, and dance performances at the Joyce Theater on 8th Avenue are just a short stroll east. A handful of art galleries, including David Zwirner, can be found between West 19th and West 21st Streets. While the shops and restaurants of Chelsea Market are three blocks away, more traditional grocery options, like Hudson Market, are at least a half-mile. It's a 10-minute walk to the 14th Street/8th Avenue subway station, where the A and C and E trains, as well as the L, can be found. There are NYCHA housing complexes along 9th Avenue, between West 16th and West 20th Streets, an area where teardown and rebuilding are expected to be happening over the next few years.