I have always been a huge film fanatic dating back to my university days. To fulfil the honours component of by ‘Bachelor in Arts’ degree I was required to write a 10,000-word dissertation. To my tutor’s surprise (horror) I opted to write about Cary Grant and his contribution to light comedy. In those days (1989) computers were not a big thing so predominantly it had to be written by hand and then forwarded to a typist. However, to my absolute delight, it was very well received and was awarded a high grade. This just goes to show that if you are passionate about a subject then the overall result will be positive.
Even though I have never visited New York, I have lived this amazing city through the eyes of filmmaker Woody Allen. There is also the highly popular American reality television series (Bravo) called ‘Million Dollar’. This intriguing two-time Emmy nominated show gives viewers an intimate glimpse of some of the finest and most luxurious homes. This stimulated my interest to find some extraordinary residences in the ‘Big Apple’ to feature on Total Design Reviews. Certainly, a brilliant example is 162 East 64th Street by acclaimed architect Rafael Viñoly.
Everybody dreams of winning the lottery and if you won $50 million then 162 East 64th Street in the trendy Lennox Hill neighbourhood in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. This townhouse really does defy belief and is the epitome of extravagance. Rafael Viñoly is normally renowned for commercial/cultural projects like The Cleveland Art Museum, Tokyo International Forum and the Laguna Garzón Bridge to name just a few. Therefore, when he’s commissioned to work on a residential project you know it’s going to be extraordinary.
162 East 64th Street is an imposing 7 storey, 6-bedroom townhouse (including a roof garden) that offers 10,400 square feet of luxurious accommodation. To achieve the buildings distinctive curved façade, the glass had to be transported from Germany to Spain where it was laminated multiple times. Every aspect of this fantasy home has been meticulously considered down to the finest detail. For example, Rafael Viñoly Architects have used the finest materials and state of the art technology to create a harmonious home for the fortunate owner (Argentinian billionaire Eduardo Eurnekian).
