High-Rise Design

By Kate Novack

When Richard Meier unveiled in 2000 his first project in New York City, a luxury condo building overlooking the Hudson River, he started a trend. Now deep-pocketed Manhattanites who missed out on Meier's foray will have another shot at the comforts of home--walls of undulating glass, private bowling alleys, state-of-the-art everything. In addition to another Meier tower, three high-end condo projects are in the works. For his first apartment building, architect Charles Gwathmey is transforming a former parking lot in Greenwich Village into a 21-story tower, Astor Place (above). The building's multifaceted exterior is chiseled like a precious stone--befitting the multimillion-dollar lofts inside. Further south, just across the street from the New York Stock Exchange, the landmark Equitable Trust Building will soon become Downtown by Philippe Starck. Prices at the 326-unit conversion are a bit more accessible ($500,000 to $3.5 million), and the lap pool, basketball court, and yoga and Pilates studio should appeal to Wall Street traders looking to unwind. For uptowners, there's One Beacon Court, architect Cesar Pelli's 55-story tower, where a top-of-the-line penthouse reportedly goes for $26 million. Jacques Grange designed the interiors down to the bathroom hardware. Not a bad place to hang your hat. --BY KATE NOVACK