Updating Legacies

Perfectly preserving the legacy of a historic building whist ticking all the necessary boxes for modern life is a tough challenge to undertake. Discerning property buyers want modern design and the latest technology and features, but we all fall in love with the story of a building and and conserving the extraordinary original features. To highlight how a home can successfully have to the best of both world, Abode2 showcases a select group of the U.S.'s most iconic, striking architectural gems with unique historic backgrounds are getting new life as ultra-rare multi-million-dollar homes.

The Archer Residences:

The first full-service, white-glove condo in historic Beacon Hill. Converted from a building that's nearly a century old, The Archer is a relative “newcomer” in Beacon Hill, one of Boston's oldest neighborhoods known for pre-war (Revolutionary War, that is) charm such as gas lanterns, cobblestone streets and Federal-style rowhouses. This new condo is already selling well hot off the presses and even put a $10M penthouse into contract, one of the biggest sales in Beacon Hill and Boston during the pandemic.

Photo Credit: Sean Litchfield

555 West End Avenue: 

This circa 1908 landmarked Beaux Arts building built by acclaimed architect William A. Boring — known for his work on the Immigration Station at Ellis Island in New York and Lemonnier Library at Notre Dame — served as a private school before being transformed into the Upper West Side's most unique condominium. The building's unique history means that the interior architecture of its 13 one-of-a-kind homes is inimitable, with soaring ceilings ranging from 12 to 20+ feet and massive original windows bringing in incredible natural light. The school's quintessential spaces have been turned into spectacular homes like the Solarium Penthouse, which was borne from the rooftop gymnasium and has a soaring, 20-foot-tall vaulted ceiling, and The Library.

One Prospect Park West:

Originally built in 1925 by the Knights of Columbus, this rare new condominium located directly on Prospect Park served as a clubhouse and hotspot for society events in Park Slope, complete with a ballroom, restaurant, bowling alley, indoor swimming pool and more. The historic building is now being converted by Sugar Hill Capital Partners into the first residential building designed by WORKSTEAD. Among a wide array of amenities, residents will enjoy an expansive rooftop meadow designed by ODA, representing the distinguished architecture and design firm’s first landscape-only commission.

Photo Credit: Christian Harder

Aman New York:

The ultra-luxury and celebrity-beloved hospitality company Aman's second urban hotel (after Aman Tokyo), and first urban hotel with private residences, will occupy the iconic Crown Building at 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, originally built in 1921 by Grand Central Terminal architects Warren & Wetmore and the original home of the Museum of Modern Art. It will have 83 guest rooms and just 22 residences on its uppermost floors, fully serviced by Aman. The residences range from 1-6 bedrooms and are already over half sold, including the $180 million Crown Penthouse that occupies the building’s gilded top. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy who has designed Aman hotels on three continents. Every residence has wood-burning fireplaces and several have private pools, on the architectural tiered setbacks of the original building. Residents also have access to the 25,000 square foot spa (featuring extensive treatment facilities like a Russian banya and Moroccan hammam) that in classic Aman style is the peaceful heart of the property, three restaurants, and membership in the private Aman Club.

Photo Credit: Aman New York