BECKFORD HOUSE & TOWER

Two Buildings…One Classic Look

By Patricia Canole | Photos by Noe & Associates: The Boundary

Beckford House & Tower are the newest condominiums poised to raise the bar for new development on the Upper East Side. The ambitious scheme, situated on Second Avenue between East 80th and 81st streets, is actually two complementary residential buildings designed by award-winning design firm Studio Sofield.

Built using the traditions of grand Upper East Side prewar architecture, the buildings are fashioned from hand-laid Indiana Limestone, hand-carved Brynne brownstone and custom grey brick and finished with stone and metal detailing evoking neighborhood landmarks as well as William Sofield’s own original designs.

“My vision for the buildings was to extend the 79th Street Park Avenue Corridor eastward and become anchors in an architecturally rich neighborhood,” said William Sofield, the founder and principal of Studio Sofield. “The private facilities and communal spaces within the tower are unabashedly amongst the most luxurious in the City,” he continued to say. Sofield, known for collaborating with Tom Ford, Gucci and YSL, was tasked with reinterpreting historic architecture to create a pair of new icons for the Upper East Side.

THE RESIDENCES
At the boutique Beckford House, a 21-story building featuring just 32 residences, Sofield incorporated a series of generous terraces and Juliet balconies that open up enviable views of the city’s skyline. He placed a hand-carved stone medallion above the entryway and differentiated the building’s classical masonry façade and intricate ironwork with decorative brick and stone quoining. Complementing the design and ornamentation of Beckford House is the adjacent 72-residence Beckford Tower, a testament to the stonemason’s craft with 31 floors of hand-carved Brynne Brownstone and Indiana Limestone by Vermont Stone Art. At the street level, Sofield custom designed wrought ironwork and classical awnings to speak to a different time.

Beckford House & Tower feature a diverse collection of condominium residences as well as a curated selection of modern-day amenities that enhance every lifestyle and are rarely seen on the Upper East Side. Beckford House, with only one, two, or three homes per floor, offers a choice of two- to five-bedroom homes along with three full-floor penthouses and one extraordinary duplex. Beckford Tower features one- to six-bedroom homes including three crowning full-floor penthouses with expansive private terraces.

Each residence is an exquisite blend of formality and elegant luxury. Beautiful foyers, dining rooms, large living rooms and formal galleries grace most residences, with corner residences providing dual aspect city perspectives. Classical detailing, such as geometric cornicing, herringbone-laid oak flooring and statuary marble finishes, appear throughout. Ceiling heights across both buildings also soar at a range of nine to 13 feet.

With materials carefully selected for their aesthetic and practical appeal, Beckford House & Tower were designed for quality and functionality. The generous, open living spaces are appointed with custom millwork by Studio Sofield and large windows that bathe the residences with light and offer views of Central Park to the west and the East River to the east.

For the unique eat-in kitchens, Sofield opted for hand-painted Christopher Peacock cabinetry, marble slab countertops and a range of appliances from Sub-Zero-Wolf. The master bathroom suites are outfitted with specially made vanities, concealed storage, enclosed showers, deep Kohler tubs and Lefroy Brooks polished chrome fittings. A four-pipe HVAC system with zoned climate control provides a perfect four-season comfort across each residence. Further convenience is provided by gracious laundry rooms in select residences.

AMENITIES & BEYOND
With its classical influences and generous proportions, the high-end lifestyle at Beckford House & Tower begins in both buildings’ lobbies. Behind a highly crafted American walnut reception desk, the dedicated Beckford House concierge team welcomes residents and guests into the ornate space featuring antique mirrors and specialty wall coverings by Ann McGuire Studio. Moving beyond the lobby, residents enter a reception room and private lounge complete with an adjoining dining room, wet bar and fireplace by Jamb of London. Downstairs, they can enjoy a fitness center and yoga studio, and on the building’s 22nd floor they can lounge at the expansive roof terrace, which offers lush greenery, plentiful seating and an outdoor kitchen with a Viking gas grill.

Residents at Beckford Tower enter the building through a double-height vestibule with a soaring skylight to reach a magnificent vaulted lobby illuminated by a vintage chandelier. The amenity spaces are located on the first floor and in two sub-cellar levels. They include a grand reception room and library; an exclusive piano bar and lounge that looks and feels like a private members club; a fully equipped game room; a children’s playroom designed by Roto; and a party room with a catering kitchen. Beckford Tower also touts over 3,000 square feet of wellness amenities, including a double-height basketball half-court, fitness center, yoga and training studios and a 65-foot indoor swimming pool. The Art Deco-inspired pool area, complete with a hot tub, relaxation area, steam room and changing rooms, is artfully designed by Studio Sofield with a glass ceiling, ornate metal detailing, potted palms and a custom glass mosaic wall mural.

Sales are managed by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, with prices ranging from $2 million to over $25 million. For more information or to schedule an appointment at the sales gallery, please call 212-535-8081 or visit beckfordresidences.com.