18 East 81st St. #5A

This is a rare opportunity to own one of a handful of apartments designed from the ground up by Ward Bennett, the innovative designer who created homes for the likes of David Rockefeller and Jann Wenner, the publisher of Rolling Stone. Ward Bennett was the first designer to bring industrial design to the home with an eye for accentuating both people and art. The New York Times, while critiquing Bennett’s volume of work wrote, From every angle one feels his sensual minimalism executed with elegance and a dash of industrial bravado. Apartment 5A is one of the most authentic and exciting interpretations of modernism design in New York City.

Located steps from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 18 East 81 Street is a beautifully appointed elevator structure which once was two separate townhouses that had been seamlessly combined. It is the perfect canvass for Bennett’s work with its high ceilings, expansive rooms, and great scale spanning the top of both houses. The result is the ideal uptown penthouse loft. Every room affords enchanting views of the stunning architectural detail of the surrounding buildings. Abundant north light bathes the living room through three oversized tilt-and-turn windows, while classic Ward Bennett lines and a unique built-in sitting area creates warmth and comfort. A wood-burning fireplace is the focal point of the room adorned by many original furnishings.

An impressive gallery for receiving guests joins the living room with the south facing dining room, creating a perfect flow of space for entertaining. The dining room is bright with a crisp minimalistic atmosphere. It can easily accommodate intimate meals as well as larger dinner parties. A custom built-in window sofa along the south wall views the gardens below. The kitchen is true to form with period design elements consistent with the rest of the apartment, such as stainless steel counters, restaurant kitchen door, and a garbage disposal. A skylight allows natural light to c