When reviewing famed Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi’s new Lower East Side condominium tower in 2007, former New York Times architecture Nicolai Ouroussoff wrote, “I can’t get the Blue Building out of my mind.” It was a thought shared by many architecture watchers in the city, and not much has changed since. Tschumi’s 17-story Blue, covered in a hypnotic array of blue glass panels, remains one of the most architecturally adventurous buildings built in downtown Manhattan in recent memory. Rising over old tenement buildings and the steel of the nearby Williamsburg Bridge — two signatures of the history-rich Lower East Side — Blue takes on a crystalline form, creating some very unique shapes in its residential layouts. Penthouse opportunities in such significant buildings are rare, but now the building’s the 2,500-square-foot penthouse duplex, which Ouroussoff singled out in his rave review thanks to its spacious private terrace, is available for rent through CORE’s Elizabeth Kee for $14,000 per month.
Here are some of the details from Kee’s listing: “A key locked elevator opens onto this private duplex loft with cantilevered glass walls, comprised of pixilated blue glass windows, giving you the feeling of floating in the sky. This 2,500-square foot 2-bedroom, 3-bathroom residence has a double corner living and dining room with breathtaking views that include three East River Bridges and the Empire State Building.” Check out that listing for more details on the apartment’s finishes and amenities, as well as a gallery of photos (some are seen below). If television is more your thing, the apartment will be featured on an upcoming episode of HGTV’s “Selling New York,” so stay tuned.
