In the New York City amenities race, developers have turned to spas with infra-red saunas and cold-plunge pools, rooftop gardens designed by the same landscape architects as the High Line, and even an indoor skate park as a way to appeal to buyers.
But when the main draws of a building are its privacy and historic architecture - as it is at 108 Leonard, the Tribeca condos housed in a former office building designed by the famous Gilded Age architects McKim, Mead & White in 1898 - a subtler approach wound up becoming the competitive edge. Among the unique details in the amenity spaces? A landmarked and restored marble-clad anteroom and bespoke furniture designed by the 125-year-old Italian brand Giorgetti, which is known for its collaborations with Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, and Brioni. Call it quiet luxury.
Inside 108 Leonard
Originally constructed as the headquarters of the New York Life Insurance Company, 108 Leonard was converted into condos by the Elad Group and Peebles Corporation in 2018. Working with Beyer Blinder Belle and Jeffrey Beers International on the interiors, the developers restored the ornate Italian Renaissance Revival façade, the monumental marble staircase and balustrade in the lobby, and a marble lounge that was once used by New York Life’s VIP clients.
'The architecture is objectively remarkable and so are the historic spaces within - interiors that we have so carefully restored and reimagined as residential amenities,' says Orly Daniell, Elad Group’s president. There are echoes of these details in the units, also designed by Jeffrey Beers International, which include waterfall marble kitchen islands, wainscoting, and cove lighting. The studio also designed the amenity spaces to complement, but not compete with, the original architecture.
Despite having some elements that are less than a year old and some that are 125 years old, the building feels remarkably cohesive because of its material richness and how all the spaces are conceived as total works of art. Because of this (as well as multiple entrances and a private driveway) 108 Leonard has attracted a number of celebrity residents including Nicole Kidman, Christian Siriano, and Clive Davis.
20,000 square feet of new amenity spaces opened in the summer of 2023: a rooftop terrace, 75-foot lap pool, fitness centre, children's’ playroom, chef’s kitchen, a private dining room, and an entertainment lounge. 'Buyers today want amenities they will actually use,' Daniell says.
To that end, the interior designers and developers conceived of the amenity spaces as ways 'to elevate daily life,' Daniell says. Furniture played an important role in this. Giorgetti designed custom velvet chaises, boucle poufs, leather sofas, and a 14-foot-long dining table made from a single piece of lacquered wood for the amenity rooms. It even made a special edition of its crystal foosball table for the game room.
The company customized the upholstery and finishes to match the color palette of the architecture. 'We decided to take an extremely elevated and sophisticated approach,' says Moreno Vitaloni, the CEO of Giorgetti’s American division. 'Our goal was to create pieces that offered a refined and understated opulence without sacrificing any elements of comfort or durability.'
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