World’s Tallest Home & Greta Garbo’s New York Apartment

10.04.17

World's Tallest House

According to the listing agent, Falcon Crest is the world’s tallest single-family home. Constructed at the slope of Prescott, Arizona’s Thumb Butte, the house that Phoenix architect Sukumar Pal built for his own family soars to 124 feet and views stretching over 120 miles to mountain ranges in every direction. Also one of the most futuristic homes in the world, Pal built Falcon Crest in 1994 to be energy efficient while still maximizing views with glass walls and ceilings.

Encompassing 10 floors at different levels and angles above a small 24’ by 24’ footprint, most of the living space is found in the home’s four wings that flare out near the upper level creating a residence of 6,200 square feet with three bedrooms, four full baths, 2,000-square-foot solarium, open kitchen and great room. A hydraulic glass elevator rises six floors from the garage taking advantage of the view and with the wings surrounded by the all-glass roofs and walls.

Having won multiple awards for his specialization in designing energy-efficient homes, the Pal residence has won four residential architecture world records including top honours for its unconventional heating and cooling systems that utilize passive solar for winter heat and micro-climate and convective cooling in the summer.

The listing agent is Frank Aazami with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty. Priced at $1.5 million.

Greta Garbo Apartment

Also, Greta Garbo's New York City co-op is much the same as when she died in 1990. Her family is asking $5.95 million for the long-time home of the reclusive actress.

Legendary Swedish actress of the 1920s and 30s, Greta Garbo, was as well known for her reclusive ways and abhorrence of publicity as she was for her classic Hollywood films. A sultry and mysterious beauty, she is still remembered today through her famous line from “Grand Hotel” in 1932, “I want (vant) to be alone.” Frugal to the extreme, she invested well, primarily in stocks and bonds, acquired a valuable art collection and was able to provide for a comfortable, if secluded, retirement. At the time of her death, her estate was worth near $57 million.

In 1950, Garbo purchased a New York City co-op overlooking the East River, where she was able to watch the shipping channel activity all the way to New York Harbour that reminded her a lot of her home in Sweden. She lived there in deep seclusion until her death in 1990. The property stayed in the Garbo family until now when they recently put it on the market.

The Campanile is a 14-story co-op built in 1927 that has 16 apartments and a swimming pool with water views on a quiet cul-de-sac. The 2,855-square-foot apartment encompasses the entire fifth floor and still has much of Garbo’s original decor such as the Fortuny silk on the walls and headboard in the master bedroom. Rooms consist of a large living room with working fireplace, formal dining room, library, large kitchen that includes locking silver and wine cabinets and breakfast area overlooking river views, three bedrooms, three baths, a home office with custom desk and built-ins and a laundry/utility room.

The apartment is listed with William A. Kerr II, William A. Kerr III, and Brian Lewis of Halstead Property and is asking $5.95 million.