See 5 Future-Defining Details at the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria
The multi-year, billion-dollar renovation of the Waldorf-Astoria will result in a combination of a legendary hotel and well-appointed residential units. We explore the design details that are setting the new rules of comfortable city living.
See 5 Future-Defining Details at the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria
As New York’s first sky-scraping hotel, the Waldorf Astoria is no stranger to setting trends. From inventing iconic menu items, playing host to countless important people, and providing gentile hospitality for nearly 100 years, the Waldorf Astoria has embarked its next trend-setting venture, featuring some carefully-considered elements in its new Tower of condominiums, designed by Jean-Louis Deniot. The architect of record is Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.
Too often today, a residents’ comfort comes second to inexpensive delivery and frivolous planning choices marketed as “modern”. There is a sustained disregard toward the most fundamental aspects of good planning such as a control of scale and the harnessing of light. Given these shortcomings, we certainly cannot expect attention to be paid to the more abstract human demands like delightful atmosphere and true convenience beyond a smattering of shared amenities.
What the people want today is a home where many small ceremonies can take place. Scenes of performance that turn the home into a stage- a cathedral celebrating to one’s achievement. Of course! Home is meant to be selfish.
Given this reality, we are fortunate to find Jean-Louis Deniot leading the interior design effort at the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria. It is clear Mr. Deniot’s sensitivity toward the legacy of the Tower has defined his gentle approach to modernizing it (which, really, defines his practice entirely). Here, “Modernization” is contained within the context of an iconic Art Deco building that is valued, in part, for being so of its time- both physically and through its essences (of white-glove service and an air of discretion). It would have been too brutal to treat the units as white boxes with vast vistas of the city and ignore the reality that Waldorf Astoria is, first and foremost, a hotel. Mr. Deniot and SOM capitalize and elaborate on the civilized, historical aspects of the building and its meaning, and then integrates modernity. It is proof many of today’s challenges have answers found in the past.
The Waldorf-Astoria New York Interior Design
Every unit has a true foyer
Noë & Associates / The Boundary
Even the smallest apartments at the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria feature true foyers, a place of welcome and goodbye- a moment of consideration where the relief of arrival and the staging of departure can take place. From the studio floor plan to the 4-bedroom aerie, all units enjoy this small but important luxury which only adds to the civility of home. All fixtures, including the lighting and flooring, were selected by Deniot. There is nothing flimsy about this building and its finishes. It has the soul of a warm rock.
2. The Concierge Closet
Courtesy the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria, New York
At the time of the Waldorf Astoria’s original construction and planning, the intersections of public, private, and service space were very intentionally minimized. Deniot preserves this idea, with most of the plans in the building follow the simple (but often forgotten) principle of axes, with a foyer acting as an anchor. But, off of every foyer is a discreet concierge closet, which can serve any number of beautiful functions with one petit door facing the hallway and another serving the entry space of the apartment. Imagine the wonderful things you might find in the concierge closet; possibly a case of Champagne or an array of fresh laundry? Room service or an unexpected git from a dear friend? It is a safe merge between convenience, order, and even surprise. The secure nature of the concierge closet could spell the end to lost packages.
3. The Dressing Room
Noë & Associates / The Boundary
This may shock some readers, but one privilege of living in a building of such legacy is its unpredictability. Unlike the glass towers of today, the interiors at the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria contend with the challenges of their time: setbacks, terraces, heating systems, fire escapes, and so on. Some designers would find these realties disappointing, but not Deniot, who, instead, celebrates the floor-by-floor, foot-by-foot charms of the tower. The result is a series of true jewel-boxes: apartments with the charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent to stand on their own.
Noë & Associates / The Boundary
While many apartments share common essences (foyers, AV closets, fixtures by Deniot, and so on), many build on that foundation with certain nooks, crannies, and happy details that will please the resident. Most expertly executed, the Dressing Room that is found on a select few apartments is a true expression of luxury. There is a gorgeous intimacy in getting ready for the day or finishing it. Remember, ritual and ceremony are at the top of mind. The dressing room, hidden behind a pair of French doors, is outfit with museum-like shelving and sophisticated lighting, giving the sensation of being back stage at the opera or in an atelier of the most in-demand couturier. The fantasy of it all!
Apartments without the full dressing room still enjoy abundant closet space by way of hallway storage as well as walk-in-closets.
4. Kitchens that actually adapt
Noë & Associates / The Boundary
The kitchen has become one of the most dynamic spaces in today’s home. Kitchens were once hidden away in basements or even outbuildings and rarely occupied by guests. Today, it is not unreasonable to claim a kitchen as the centerpiece of a home; a new social place where all sorts of activity can transpire. At the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria, the kitchens, often facing public areas such as a living room, feature wood and lacquer cabinetry custom-designed by Deniot which cleverly conceal top-of-the-line German appliances by Gaggenau, allowing form to protect function. The result is a function, sculptural chameleon: a kitchen that can go from being the backdrop of cocktail party to a place of gourmet preparation with a chef called in. In the scenario of an even at home, the flow out and into the kitchen is paramount. Deniot respects this logistical consideration by giving most kitchens at least two points of entry.
5. The Empire Club meeting space
Noë & Associates / The Boundary
Work-from-home arrangement began out of necessity but have been embraced by many industries as wrote policy. The benefits far outweigh the disadvantages, but the novelty has worn off. Now vitality, inspiration, and comfort are at the center of the WFH experience. Humans need associations and the ability to compartmentalize. Many need public space to be productive. The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria offer residents a suite of work-related amenities and spaces to be productive at home. Whether one is taking a single phone call or hosting a conference, the lavishly appointed workspaces are highly adaptable and are exclusively for the use of residents. Many other buildings count community space or business centers among a roster of amenities, but they are often not purpose built or comfortable to occupy for an extended period. The towers of the Waldorf Astoria offers a true business facility that is at once functional, communal, and inspiring.
Virtual and in-person tours of the Towers of the Waldorf Astoria are available now. Units begin at just under $2 million.