Located atop the second-tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, the penthouse at 111 West 57th Street hosts a contemporary interior designed by Banda. Helmed by Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Banda is a global property practice overseeing all aspects of luxury real estate, from acquisition and development to project management and design. For the interior of this 6,512-square-foot duplex, Banda balanced a careful curation of old and new in reference to the development in which it is housed: an encounter between the historically landmarked Steinway Hall and the newly-constructed, 1,428-foot tower designed by SHoP Architects.
“I wanted to create a design ecosystem that would reflect the building’s story and its blend of architectural styles” says Mapelli Mozzi. To do so he tapped luxury furnishings outfit Invisible Collection and Paris-based consultancy Noûs Art to help curate a collection of “purposeful pieces from different genres, eras and locations.”
Entering from a private elevator gallery on the 76th floor, the home opens to a sprawling, northern-facing great room that boasts 14’ floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping, unimpeded views of Central Park. Here, curving furnishings and fixtures sourced from Invisible Collection offset the geometric lines of the building and skyline beyond. A pair of Saint Honoré Sofas by Pierre Augustin Rose at the center of the room wrap around the Cuprite d’Eau Coffee Table by Pierre Bonnefille, a kidney-shaped limited edition of wood with resin supported by a patinated brass base. Overhead, three substantial Signal Y pendants of smoked glass and aged brass from APPARATUS float high enough so as not to disrupt the views.
In the adjacent dining space, two Reprise Pendants also from APPARATUS, hang low over the oval Luco Dining Table by Studio Parisien. Eight sculptural Mast Teak Chairs from Atelier Pendhapa surround. On the opposite end of this grand space, a secondary seating area includes the Sofa 280 and Craft Round Coffee Table by Pierre Augustin Rose. The soft, pink curves of the two Ebisu Armchairs by Charlotte Biltgen in custom Pierre Frey fabric are contrasted by the low, orthogonal daybed from Charlotte Taylor and Garcé & Dimofski.
On the south face of the first floor, a breakfast nook adjacent to the kitchen boasts a custom banquette, fronted by the sizable Swan Dining Table by Francesco Balzano and Giraffe Dining Chairs by Juliana Lima Vasconcellos. The rich, chocolate material palette–velvet, venous stone, solid wood–is offset by subtle, School House White paint from Farrow & Ball.
Upstairs on the 77th floor, the primary bedroom suite occupies the entire length of the north facade. Here, the Alta Chair by Oscar Niemeyer and a pencil drawing of Alexandra Danilova by Andy Warhol incorporate 20th century renown into the contemporary dwelling space. Underfoot, the feathered Nazar Rug from Atelier Fevrier in vibrant blue with black silk eyes adds a playful pop of color to the neutral interior. The suite also includes a private study, walk-in wardrobe and dressing areas, and two generous bathrooms. Set before the expansive New York cityscape, a handmade, freestanding, polished nickel bathtub by William Holland and exclusive Studio Sofield-designed bronze fittings hand-cast by P.E. Guerin create a surreal moment of respite high above the city.
