When & Where: a gorgeous Friday afternoon in downtown NYC
Text, Vivian G. Kelly with contributions by Laura C. Wood
Images, Nelson Bakerman, courtesy of Laforce & Stevens Public Relations
If you thought living the eco life meant having to give up luxury, think again! Our walk through River House gave us the impression of being aboard a luxurious yacht. This building is special, it’s an environmentally friendly building that responds to its environment.
There are loads of luxury condominiums on the market, but very few [if any] can claim that they have already exceeded Gold Rating, according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED]. River House has already passed the GOLD mark and is loaded with Green Amenities.
THE ECO PART: WHY IT’S GREEN
LEED measures sustainability in 4 key areas:
1. Energy efficiency: RH is almost 30% more efficient than NY State code requires
2. H2O savings: RH conserves the equivalent of 320,100 bottles of 12-oz water DAILY!
3. Indoor environmental quality: RH filters fresh air 2X before it’s pumped into each residence
4. Materials selection: RH is composed of 65% eco-friendly materials
The developers, the Sheldrake Organization, hope to achieve Platinum Status by the end of 2008. Our money is riding with them, after our walk-through, we’d be shocked if they didn’t.
THE WHO – the key players in this production responsible for creating River House.
1. POLSHEK PARTNERSHIP ARCHITECTS– the architects for the entire project
Previous Credentials: the Rose Center for Earth & Space
2. ISMALAEL LEYVA ARCHITECTS– responsible for the interior layouts
Previous Creds: The Time Warner Center
3. DESIGNER: THE DAVID ROCKWELL GROUP – designed the public areas, including the pool and billiards room
Previous Creds: Nobu, downtown Manhattan
5. THE SHELDRAKE ORGANIZATION – the development, investment, and management firm behind the project
THE TOUR: The Cosy Pied @ Terre & The Minimalist Bachelor Pad
“RESIDENCE L” - THE COSY PIED A TERRE
This 3 bedroom, 4 bath, 2,095 residence was far and away our favorite apartment. We especially loved the solid bamboo floors and David Rockwell’s Travetine stone bathrooms, which made us long for a long bath soaking in Kniepp bath salts. What most struck us though, was the almost 3-D appearance of the rich textures throughout the space.
Thom Filicia Inc. was hired to do the interior decorating. The firm’s challenge was to use all eco friendly furnishings that were both stylish and luxurious. With a budget of $500,000, [not including the artwork] the Firm did an incredible job showing what can result when you combine good taste with a lavish budget.
Thom Filicia Inc is located at 270 Lafayette St. Suite 10001, NYC
Tel: 212-736-6454
www.thomfilicia.com
L’s PRICE: $2,655,000,
The interior décor or art are not included but are available for purchase.
“RESIDENCE M”: THE MINIMALIST BACHELOR PAD
This 3 bedroom, e bathroom 1,449 Sq. Ft. residence is for someone with a minimalist sensibility, thanks to its linear design. We loved the light exposure, especially in the master suite and the fact that almost 100% of the furnishings in it were eco friendly.
M’s PRICE: $1,800,000
VIVAVI- the first modern green furniture showroom in NYC.
If you’re not of the mind to dedicate the next 6 months of your life traveling the world, sourcing items from your posh new eco pad, THIS is the solution. Everything sold is the store is of course, eco friendly.
This ultra-convenient popup furniture store right on the premises is run by ARON, who is both friendly and knowledgeable, and didn’t mind answering a lot of questions. Aron will also work with you to create a custom piece that gets high marks for sustainability.
Vivavi offers 1-stop shopping for want-it-now items such as:
-The colored mosaic portraits – pop art in which the artist ingeniously used their junk mail as their working material – the most creative way to recycle we’ve heard of yet!
-TEAM 7 EVIVA Dining Table with a table extension available in glass, from Austria.
Table: $7,369
Extension: $2,539
-KNU DESK
At $1149, this is about what you would pay for a nice desk anywhere else. Eco friendly furniture is not ALWAYS more expensive.
There’s even a room dedicated to nursery items, as many people opt to “go Green” once they have children. Said Aron, pointing to a minimalist white crib, “The nursery items have been the most challenging, but we’re working hard in this area as a lot of people go Green for their kids.”
We ended our tour with a walk around the roof and enjoyed a spectacular view of the Statue of Liberty in the bargain, and realized that we were only 2 short blocks away from Tribecca and tons of subway lines.
Showroom Hours:
Mon-Fri 10-6
Sat & Sun 12-4
Tel. 866-848-2840
For more information, visit the official website
www.vivavi.com
PRICING and ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
According to MONIQUE ROEDER, the Sheldrake Organization’s Director of Marketing, 72% of the 262 units have already been sold.
The company is looking at several properties in LA, but there is not an official deal on them yet, they are in the works for the future [to build a similar green project in LA.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
The players on the River House Team have more than fulfilled their design mission of “blurring the boundary between the building and the outside environment using extraordinary craftsmanship and materials to create intelligently designed, eco-friendly, uncluttered interiors.”
We’ve only touched on a few points in our write-up about this remarkable building. For more information, contact 212-587-1200 or visit the Wales & Discovery Center at 4 World Winancial Center [over looking the marina].
www.riverhouse.com