611 W 56th St

611 W 56th

Before its opening in 2021, the slim geometric white tower at 611 West 56th Street attracted lots of attention as the first US high-rise designed by Pritzker Prize-Winning Master Architect Alvaro Siza. The Portuguese architect envisioned the 35-story Perla Bianca limestone and glass tower to have an interlocking pattern of rectangles and squares, with large corner windows. The exterior is notable for its simple modernist and functional form, and while some might appreciate the building’s streamlined sensibilities, others might find the interiors to be overly compact. From the minimalist lobby to the utilization of elevators that open into units, spaces are fully optimized here. Most floors only contain two residences, which lends the building a boutique feel. Additionally, the location, at the corner of 11th Avenue on Manhattan’s West Side, can make it feel a bit hidden; however recognizable, the tower seems almost nondescript from the street. A unique feature of 611 West 56th Street is that every residence in the 77-unit building was designed to have a half-bath — ensuring that guests don’t have to trek through a bedroom to use the facilities. With interior design by Gabellini Sheppard, the one to four-bedroom residences are lined with wide plank oak floors and kitchens are outfitted with Gaggenau appliances, atop or within Grigio Nicola marble countertops. Natural tones and clean lines define the spaces. A two-bedroom with open living and dining space might cost $2.4 million. A full-floor four-bedroom penthouse with door-free elevator access and open views including the Hudson River and the Empire State Building can go for $5 million. The building includes three full-floor units and six penthouses, including one penthouse duplex with outdoor terrace space. If the small, attended lobby that greets visitors with wooden benches was not meant to be lounged in, that may be because the amenities spaces at 611 West 56th Street are extensive, if neatly hidden. Custom walnut cabinetry lines the common areas, including a spacious residents’ lounge and a gym with a separate boxing studio and popular yoga room. A steam room with changing facilities is nearby, as is a children’s playroom, which connects through a secret mirrored door to the billiards room. An outdoor space is available on the second floor. The building is largely owner-occupied, with a few pied-a-terre buyers, and privacy is valued — floors nine and above have private elevators to access the residences. Additional storage is available and parking spaces in the ground-floor garage can be purchased. At West 56th and 11th Avenue, the building occupies a unique area of Hell’s Kitchen, accessible to both Midtown and the Upper West Side, with a touch of an industrial feel. VW, Audi, and BMW dealerships can all be found immediately nearby. For nightlife lovers, the concert venue Terminal 5 is a neighbor, and runners can take advantage of Hudson River Park and Pier 96, less than a 10-minute walk away. Lincoln Center is just a bit further, about a 15-minute walk, and Central Park is within strolling distance. More businesses have begun to populate the area, with White Noise Coffee Company directly next door and Hudson Market offering groceries a block away, and a few Pilates studios close by. Carless commuters will have a little bit of a walk — the nearest subway stop is Columbus Circle, where the 1 and A and C and B and D trains can be found.