A stunning penthouse at Quay Tower — the new luxury high rise designed by LA-based Marmol Radziner on the Brooklyn Heights waterfront — just sold for more than $20 million, setting a new record for the most expensive home sale in Brooklyn history.
This is the first time Marmol Radziner has brought its California modernist aesthetic to New York City — the firm is best known for renovating iconic mid-century modern homes out west, including the famous Kaufmann House in Palm Springs.
With Quay Tower — and this penthouse in particular — Marmol Radziner creates a similar modernist experience of living in a home surrounded by nature. With tranquil views of the East River and New York Harbor, it’s easy to forget you’re in a 30-story structure in New York City.
Despite its elegant, modern design built with high-quality and natural materials, the ultra-luxe penthouse is meant to be lived in and loved. In the living room, a fireplace creates an intimate and inviting gathering space with stunning views of Manhattan.
The record-setting home combines two penthouses at the top of the building to create one incredible mansion with five-plus bedrooms and 7,433 square feet of living space, as well as a private 1,179-square-foot terrace.
A balance of intimacy and openness, indoor and outdoor and modernist meets warmth is tough to strike in a high-rise, and that is the real triumph of Marmol Radziner’s vision for Quay Tower.
Photos courtesy of Allison Walker.
Real estate experts attribute Cayman Islands’ growth in tourism to an active hurricane season in North America.
Experts in the Cayman Islands real estate industry noticed an increase in flights from key North American destinations in 2017. The tri-island Caribbean nation also recorded its best stay-over visitation figures and hit a real estate sales record of $696 million, increasing by a record-breaking 9 percent in 2017 versus the prior year, according to the most recent property report by Cayman Islands-based independent property consultants, Charterland. Experts say they believe that the increased amount of tourism is driving real estate sales.
Cayman Islands Realtors have also noticed that the increase in air travel and tourism can be partially attributed to an active 2017 hurricane season in North America that left Grand Cayman untouched.
“Last year’s storms brought an influx of people who were previously unfamiliar with Grand Cayman, but this has led to more sales as they have fallen in love with the island and are keen to make here their second home,” said Ruth Gustafsson, an associate broker for Provenance Properties Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate and the sole real estate brokerage for Dart Real Estate.
The increase in visitation to the Cayman Islands can also be attributed to the Kimpton hotel’s clientele, who are attracted to the island by their loyalty to the brand. The Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa and the adjacent condos for sale at The Residences at Seafire are popular among tourists who wish to settle down in the Cayman Islands.
The Residences at Seafire is a waterfront 10-story architectural gem. Developed by Dart Real Estate, it houses a collection of 62 distinct residences which marry contemporary Caribbean style with high design. The Residences are exclusively represented by Provenance Properties Cayman Islands, and are offering one- to five-bedroom condos starting at $1.5 million.
The Residences are also located along Seven Mile Beach, a popular tourist destination in Grand Cayman. Seven Mile Beach is the area of choice for real estate sales due to the number of Grand Cayman luxury properties for sale, according to the Charterland report. Data showed 130 beachfront condominiums sold on Seven Mile Beach last year, a 20-percent jump from 2016 purchases.
Photos courtesy of Provenance Properties Cayman Islands