100 E 53rd St

Selene

There is nothing unique about a tall, slender skyscraper in New York City. But some Midtown towers go beyond the ordinary to emphasize the most endearing qualities of modernism — the inherent beauty of materials, rectilinear forms and designs that are as alluring as they are useful. New York-based architecture practice Foster + Partners did exactly that by borrowing cues from two prime examples of International Style architecture — Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram Building and SOM’s Lever House, both located around the block from SELENE — to inspire the modern design of this building’s distinctly white facade sheathed in an undulating glass skin. It somehow conveys weightlessness with its rectilinear forms made up of unadorned, taut plane surfaces. An eight-story bustle beside the 711-foot building connects residents to 53rd Street and The Seagram Building pavilion via the illuminated canopy entrance. “In the spirit of Mies’s philosophy of rationality, simplicity and clarity, the tower has a slender, minimalist geometric form, designed to complement these distinguished neighbors,” says Norman Foster, senior executive partner at Foster + Partners. 94 properties across 73 stories encapsulate five types of residences. Floors five through nine are dedicated to modern lofts — bespoke “gallery quality” residences of oversized proportions featuring concrete interiors. The walls are made from poured concrete, the floors from polished pavement, and the ceilings from ribbed mortar. The units are outfitted with wire-brushed oak millwork, brushed stainless-steel countertops and backsplashes. The two floors above, ten through eleven, comprise “Garden Mansion” duplexes with 5,300 square foot terraces. The bulk of residences are between floors 12 through 47; each of the “Tower Residences” is wrapped in a floor-to-ceiling glass curtain wall, offering panoramic vistas of some of New York’s most celebrated architectural landmarks. Design details include kitchens equipped with integrated Gaggenau appliances and bathrooms with sculptural vanities and Italian silver travertine. Floors 49 through 59 are full-floor properties in the same style. And the top two floors 60 and 61 are home to the penthouses. The amenities spaces occupy the third and fourth floors of the nine-story bustle adjacent to the 711-foot tower. Referred to as the wellness-focused amenities spaces, the fourth floor features a 60-foot pool drenched in sunlight from the surrounding floor-ceiling windows, shaded by an arbor of bamboo plants for privacy. On the same floor, there’s a cardio room with various workout machines, a free weights area, a Pilates studio, a yoga room, spa treatment rooms and steam and sauna rooms. Below on the third floor, spaces designed for social activities include table tennis, billiards, a lounge and conference areas for leisure and work. A special perk of living at SELENE is the residents-only elevator that provides access to Le Jardinier and Bar Bastion, a Michelin-starred French establishment by Chef Alain Verzeroli. The interiors have been designed by AD100 architecture and interior design firm Georgis & Mirgorodsky, who also adorned the lobby with custom furniture and a bespoke art installation by American sculptor Rachel Feinstein. People come from around the world to walk along 5th Avenue and check out the legendary shops, and SELENE is in the heart of the action. There are famous department stores, Saks and Bergdorf Goodman, and flagship luxury stores like Dior, Cartier, Dolce and Gabbana. And, of course, there are also the big-box brands stores like Zara, Nike and Uniqlo. Midtown East is also ich in iconic, highly acclaimed restaurants, including Grand Central Oyster Bar, a seafood eatery beneath grand arched ceilings, and The Grill, a historic mid-century steakhouse inside The Seagram Building. And for those who want to splurge, there are a number of Michelin-starred spots including Daniel, La Grenouille and Aquavit. Grand Central is approximately half a mile, about a 15-minute walk, door-to-door, from the SELENE. The grand concourse, famous for its distinctive, landmarked Beaux-Arts design, houses MTA’s 4, 5, 6, 7 and S trains and the Metro-North Railroad terminal.