Luxurious and glamorous architecture and design will always gain attention. Feats of excess have always been something to admire, while the traditional and general mentality towards excess has been positive. That was certainly the mentality of most, up until most of the world had to face the consequences out of control excess, leaving two very drastic results.
Capitalist excess, which has led to the disastrous global financial crisis and industrial excess, which has played a large part in our climate change issues, both stand as a very clear warning for this generation against superfluous living and ideals.
While both of these realities have influenced the world at large, their effects on the industry have been particularly powerful. For this reason, sustainable living in all of its intricacies has morphed into the uber-trend that it is today.
However, there will always be those who live for success even in this global climate.
The ever-cool city of New York epitomises this kind of extreme luxury – and comes with the same kind of price tag to boot.
Just going back on the market for $100 million is the City Spire’s penthouse. Encompassing floors 72 to 75 of the tower, the massive apartment has been labeled as the ‘crown jewel’ of the entire complex by real estate brokers.
It certainly must be, if the cost is any indication.
Designed by architect Juan Pablo Maolyneux, the space is a testament to traditional Roman and Versailles design elements such as interior pillars and marble and features six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, servants quarters, 20-seat dining facilities and a wine cellar fit for 1,000 bottles.
In the 20 years that developer Steven Klar has owned the space, its price has jumped by well over $90 million. Klar bought the penthouse in 1993 for US$4.5 million and spent a similar amount renovating the space.
While these big-ticket developments still stand, questions surround their relevance to a modern market. With a $100 million price tag, what is the realistic possibility that a space like this will even sell, especially in the post-GFC United States of America?
Have these global events changed both industry and consumer? Are there limits that deem architecture as unnecessary and over the top to both consumer and developer?
The answers to these questions remain to be seen, but they are real questions with the industry already having proven to be swayed by new limitations by further developing and heavily funding more sustainable projects.
