100 11th Ave

Nouvel Chelsea

On the western edge of the Chelsea gallery district at 19th Street, an undulating skin of exactly 1,750 panes of transparent glass forms the facade of Nouvel Chelsea in a free-form mosaic-like framework. Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel devised a street-level intervention to define public and private space with a 5-story mullioned curtain wall that floats fifteen feet in front of the condominium. Full-grown trees within the steel grid appear to levitate above the sidewalk and shade resident terraces. Across 13 stories, 57 residences range from studios starting at 430 square feet listing for $825,000 to $975,000 to three bedrooms starting at 1,950 square feet for $3.3 million to $4.8 million. Meanwhile, penthouses starting at 4,675 square feet list for between $12 million and $14.9 million. “The type of people who buy here appreciate the arts and architecture,” says Ria Browne, real estate broker at Compass, who is in the top 1.5% of Real Trend’s nationwide Top Real Estate Professionals. “You’re in the heart of West Chelsea, in the district known as 'Architect's Row.' Directly across the street is the Frank Gehry IAC Building, The XI by Bjarke Ingels Group and Annabelle Selldorf’s 520 West Chelsea.” Every condo at 100 11th Avenue is outfitted with a sumptuous panoramic view of the Hudson River, afforded by its west- and south-curved curtain walls. Most rooms are crescent shaped to achieve this tall order, and spaces elsewhere seem to have oddly specific angles and proportions. Sweeping living rooms open to space-age-looking kitchens clad in floor-to-ceiling skin of stainless steel, featuring Fisher Paykel, Viking, and Sub-Zero appliances. Throughout, windows match the exterior’s pixelated motif. In the north and east side of the brick facade, a selection of rectangles and squares frame different angles of Manhattan’s skyline like some kind of photographic found-art composition. The interiors are dominated by the design’s sheer dedication to full-height window walls. Nouvel isn’t trying to make all the parts add up; his virtuoso forms transcend the nuanced balance between free form and structure. “On a curving angle, like that of the eye of an insect, differently positioned facets catch all of the reflections and throw out sparkles,” says Jean Nouvel, design architect and principal at Ateliers Jean Nouvel. “The apartments are within the 'eye,' splitting up and reconstructing this complex landscape: one framing the horizon, another framing the white curve in the sky and another framing the boats on the Hudson River and, on the other side, framing the mid-town skyline.” Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows and views that blur the boundaries between inside and out, there’s a clandestine interior outdoor space bathed in sunlight, punctuating innate focal points of the architecture — not unlike contemporary Japanese courtyards enclosed in glass, where, similarly, patterns of light cascade from inside out. Between the pixelated glass facade and the older brick building behind it, the ground-floor interior courtyard is articulated by a 70-foot pool that seamlessly unfolds into the interior gym outfitted with Life Fitness machines and free weights. Residents can luxuriate in steam or sauna rooms infused with fresh eucalyptus. At Chelsea Nouvel, there’s private storage, parking and a bike room, each included and guaranteed, which is an outright luxury even in five-star starchitect buildings. Naturally, because this is a full-service, luxe condominium, there’s a live-in super and 24-hour door attendant for day-to-day odds and ends. Situated along The Highline — often referred to as “Pritzker Prize Alley” because there are so many buildings in the neighborhood designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects— residents live within reach of some of the top galleries in the nation, including the David Zwirner just down the block, Gagosian, Pace and Hauser & Wirth. For groceries, residents are within walking distance to Chelsea Market, Trader Joe’s and Westside Market. Meanwhile, there’s something to be said for living near one of the city’s most beloved green spaces, Hudson River Park and Greenway, a 550-acre park stretching from 59th Street to The Battery. The pocket near Nouvel Chelsea comprises the legendary Chelsea Piers, Chelsea Waterside and Dog Park and Piers 62, 63 and 64 — making it an ideal location for a jog, bike ride, dog walk, and, of course, watching sunsets. The Nouvel Chelsea is about half a mile from the major transportation hub, 14th Street/8th Avenue, which services the A, C, E and L subway trains. Meanwhile, countless bus lines connect residents from the depths of 11th Avenue to other stations eastward and beyond. For those who utilize the building’s parking and valet service, it goes without saying that there are many advantages to living just a block from the West Side Highway. It’s true, there’s always the option to walk from 11th Avenue, but if time is of the essence, the journey might feel like a small odyssey.