Skyscraper

The word skyscraper is forever associated with Utopian cities and their effort to conquer space. The architecture of New York brings to mind this futuristic vision. It evokes science fiction tales, the images of men travelling in flying devices, slaloming between towers, finding pathways in the sky. This landscape of the future dreamt by early modern men, has become part of our contemporary reality. Manhattan incarnates the modern city made of high-rises and fast streets.

Lauren Berger Collection has selected the perfect apartment for a full New York experience. This apartment is on one of the highest floors of a superb high-rise. In a prime location, the building offers exclusive amenities, including a private leisure lounge with a beautiful rooftop patio and a fitness center.

In the midst of Midtown, the beautiful two-bedroom apartment is perched in the air, dominating the city. Its spectacular space spans 1250 sq ft designed to provide the experience of pure luxury. If you have ever dreamed of living in a futuristic building and waking up with a breathtaking view of Times Square, this is the place for you. The experience is memorable and can never be reproduced elsewhere.

The spirit of New York

Times Square is a symbol of New York’s life. The neighborhood bustles with energy. It embodies the entrepreneurial, daring spirit of the city. Corporate headquarters and the fashion district partake in the dynamism of Times Square. At night, the area activity converges to the theater district, one of the cultural Mecca of the world. The city most famous plays and musicals are performed on Broadway to the audience’s delight. Tourists and residents alike gather in front of the theatres waiting under the shining lights. Before and after the play, they will fill up the restaurants, bars and comedy clubs. The streets of Times Square will be fully alive until the end of the night.

The view and the silence

The architecture of New York presents itself in the most unique way viewed from the air. This is true for most cities. We know this instinctively, looking for the perfect elevated spot to enjoy the vista in every metropolis we visit. From high up, we see better; we can fully appreciate the urban density and witness its pace. New York, more than any other city, offers the possibility of being looked at from above. The Empire State Building and the World Trade Center embody the desire New Yorkers have to rise above the ground and occupy observatory points.

Living in a well located high-rise, you will experience New York in the most privileged way. Your view will be private and will rival the best the city has to offer. Lauren Berger Collection’s two-bedroom is located in a soaring 60-story high-rise, a magnificent contemporary building. Every room in the apartment benefits from a mesmerizing view of the Manhattan skyline. The living room and the bedrooms have the most enchanting perspectives, of course.

What is always remarkable in these apartments in the sky is how quiet they are. All the noises of the busy urban traffic are edited out. The view alone remains. It is magical to be able to enjoy it privately in the sound of silence. The bedrooms face the spectacle of Times Square and, to the west, the Hudson River. Falling asleep with the illuminated city at your feet—isn’t that a dream?

Transparency and light

Floor-to-ceiling windows bathe the space in natural light. There are no external walls, only transparent partitions with the exterior world. You feel suspended in the clear sky. Nothing around but a peaceful light. The two spacious bedrooms are located at each end of the apartment with their adjacent luxurious bathrooms. The living room and the kitchen are central and equipped with the latest appliances and audio-visual devices.

Dressed in white, cream and blue, the apartment’s decoration and furnishing are perfectly in harmony with the concept of living in the sky. The colors are soft, luminous and fresh. Light reflects off the whites, travels and brushes softly the plush textures of bed covers and sofas. All the wooden surfaces of the cabinets and floors are sleek and smooth. Their deep caramel brown brings an earthy component to the design. The entire apartment is simply beautiful: a world of glass, marble and wood. All the details are exquisitely crafted to create a unique experience of New York City.

Text: Barbara Stehle

Walk past Van Cleef & Arpels and Mikimoto, turn onto 53rd Street, and, across from the iconic Museum of Modern Art, you will find the Baccarat Hotel New York. The entrance is framed by a prismatic glass wall and a modernist dark awning. From the red carpet lit by crystal chandeliers, a doorman will usher you onto a private elevator. Enter a world of exalted luxury, reserved for a very few. Welcome to Baccarat, where every moment is magical, every sight a delight.

A new edge to Baccarat

Created by the legendary French crystal company, the first ever Baccarat Hotel rises in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, at the epicentre of New York City culture and luxury. The hotel’s contemporary spaces exude impeccable taste and elegance. Parisian designers Gilles & Boissier have created a fusion of sensibilities, with the sophistication of Paris and the boldness of New York City.

Baccarat was built by artisans seeking to achieve perfection never seen before. It became what it is today by crafting exceptional works treasured by the world’s most powerful. At the Baccarat Hotel, each carefully curated piece brings this history into the present.

Baccarat signature colours

Baccarat is famous for its formidable chandeliers, and the hotel showcases this wonderfully with exquisite lighting in every salon and suite, accented with Baccarat crystal and the fiery crimson shade of Baccarat red. The limpid crystals are akin to diamonds—nothing compares to their purity— while the ruby ones offer a much deeper, sensual luminosity.

White, red and black are central to the hotel’s colour palette. Gorgeous spherical bouquets of red roses and red accent pieces spark up a joyful touch amidst the elegant white leathers, lunar veined marble floors and creamy draperies. The bar and the art gallery are a daring marriage of red, white and black. The rhythm is faster, the space, dynamic.

Grand Salon, Petit Salon

Alluding to a suite of reception rooms in a French chateau, the Grand Salon and Petit Salon are Baccarat Hotel New York’s dining and lounge areas. With their high ceilings, sparkling crystal and dazzling vitrines, both sumptuous salons are perfect for a relaxing pause or social gathering.

The Petit Salon is intimate and dimmed, with wooden panels and a golden ceiling. It is ideal for a private conversation or a good read. The contemporary Grand Salon feels airy and chic, with Jouffre silk-covered walls. This is where the afternoon teas, lunches and dinners are served.

The Baccarat has many delicious bites and small plates. The menu is filled with delicacies like truffles and caviar, and a wonderful array of seafood and meats. Pastry chef Rosario Wakabayashi’s delightful desserts are fantastic. The service is impeccable and discreet.

The Bar and the art

Most hip New Yorkers have sat at the Baccarat bar for a late-night drink. Weekdays and weekends alike, The Bar and its terrace attract a chic crowd, who come for the cocktails and the cool atmosphere.

The Baccarat has an extensive and sophisticated art collection. Art lovers are sure to enjoy the works of many renowned artists, which are displayed throughout the hotel spaces. The bar walls in particular are replete with framed works. The collection is more than just paintings: Baccarat crystal glasses, with their iconic, famously architectural designs, are used in The Bar, salons and rooms.

The rooms and suites

If you are looking for a luxurious personal escape, the Baccarat is the hotel for you. All rooms feature crystal and have a sensual elegance, with four-poster king-sized beds, white plush covers and luxurious linens. The pièce de résistance is the Baccarat Suite, an 1800-square-foot space with a bedroom, living room, powder room and grand foyer. The suite offers multiple possibilities, from private retreats to in-room cocktail parties.

The designers have created a splendid interior with custom furniture and detailed décor embracing contemporary French esthetics. Black and white rococo-inspired motifs, classical proportions and modern furnishings come together flawlessly. A world of texture unfolds, from the softest cashmere and velour to sleek lacquer and white leathers.

Spa and pool

The lower level of the Baccarat houses the Spa de La Mer, a glorious swimming pool and fitness centre, all of which is welcoming and beautifully designed, inspired by luxurious European seaside retreats.

After your treatment, extend your experience by enjoying a peaceful moment under the lush canopied day beds along the pool. You will never want to leave this dreamy retreat, reminiscent of antique Roman baths and the French Riviera.

Text: Barbara Stehle
Photos: © Baccarat Hotel New York