100 Eleventh Avenue
Jean Nouvel's 'Vision Machine.' 1,700 uniquely angled glass panes. White terrazzo floors and stainless steel kitchens designed by the architect.
| Building Type | glass tower |
| Era | Contemporary (2000–2015) |
| Governance | Condominium |
| Board Approval | Not Required |
| Year | 2010 |
| Architect | Ateliers Jean Nouvel + Beyer Blinder Belle |
| Interior Designer | Ateliers Jean Nouvel (architect designed all interiors) |
| Landmark | No |
| Units | 72 |
| Price Range | $2.0M - $12.0M |
| Design Register | Starchitect Contemporary |
| Flooring | White terrazzo (Nouvel-designed throughout) |
| Kitchen | Jean Nouvel custom stainless steel kitchen system |
| Countertop | White marble slab kitchen islands; stainless steel surround |
| Backsplash | Stainless steel floor-to-ceiling kitchen skin |
| Appliances | Miele + Liebherr |
| Appliance Suite | Miele and Liebherr integrated in Nouvel's stainless steel kitchen system |
| Bath Fixtures | Jado (Nouvel designed custom electronic fixtures for building); Kohler tubs; Corian surfaces; Grohe hardware in renovated units |
| Bath Stone | Fitted glass, mirrors, and Corian surfaces (Nouvel-designed) |
| Ceilings | 10–14 ft |
| Windows | ~1,700 colorless glass panes each at unique angle (Mondrian-like pattern inspired by Sainte-Chapelle); mechanized shade systems; south and west views; crescent-shaped rooms due to curved plan |
| Smart Home | Yes |
| Collections | 72 apartments (studio to 4-bedroom + 5 penthouses); full 21st floor is single large residence with 'outdoor rooms'; 70-foot indoor/outdoor heated pool; Crestron lighting typical in renovated units |
| Lobby | Jean Nouvel described the building as 'a Vision Machine' and 'a conceptual descendant of the Arab World Institute in Paris.' An instant landmark upon release of renderings (2007). Across the street from Frank Gehry's IAC building. Notable residents: Kelsey Grammer, Stevie Nicks, John Elway. In 2010, the developer replaced Nouvel's elegant polished granite lobby — the architect publicly objected. |
100 Eleventh Avenue is one of two buildings in this collection where every material — the floors, the kitchen system, the bathroom fixtures, the shade systems — was designed by the building's architect. Jean Nouvel designed the white terrazzo floors, the stainless steel kitchens with terrazzo islands, the custom electronic bath fixtures for Jado, and the mechanized shading. This level of architect involvement is almost without precedent in American residential development.
The building's ~1,700 uniquely angled glass panes — inspired by the stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle in Paris — create interiors where every room has a different relationship to light and view. Most rooms are crescent-shaped, curving with the building's arc toward the Hudson River. Standard rectangular furniture arrangements do not apply here.
Design-conscious clients bought specifically for the architecture. Kelsey Grammer, Stevie Nicks, and John Elway have lived here — not for white-glove services (the building is relatively modest in that regard) but for the experiential quality of the interiors themselves.
- Crescent-shaped rooms with angled windows require custom furniture plans — no standard rectangular arrangements work
- Nouvel's stainless steel kitchen can be maintained, renovated in-kind, or replaced — the choice signals the renovation's design philosophy
- White terrazzo floors create a gallery-like quality that supports art display
- 1,700 uniquely angled windows create ever-changing light quality throughout the day — window treatments are complex and important
- Building attracts design-conscious clients — renovation must demonstrate genuine visual intelligence
- Art-world proximity (Chelsea galleries, The High Line) suggests art integration is both appropriate and expected