Paul Rudolph’s contributions to American architecture are sprawling, with his fingerprints on everything from the Yale School of Art & Architecture to Manhattan’s Modulator Building. It should follow, therefore, that the home in which he lived until his death in 1997 was equally dazzling—and it was.
Located at 23 Beekman Place, the home is done in Rudolph’s typical modernist style, has been named a New York City landmark, and is now on the market for $18.5 million.
Rudolph purchased the home, an 1867 construction along a row of traditional townhouses, in 1976, and plunged into an extensive renovation project soon after. In addition to gutting the home’s original five levels, Rudolph added a four-level penthouse; this would become his primary residence.
The penthouse soars above Beekman Place, offering incomparable views of the East River, and its 4,000-square-footprint accounts for three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and chef’s kitchen. The exterior, a bird’s nest of steel balconies perched atop the original, elegant gray townhouse, has been left untouched since Rudolph’s death. The interior, however, was updated slightly by the current owners, who hired architects to maintain Rudolph’s vision.
Though the penthouse alone would be a fantastic deal, the entire townhouse is actually for sale; a total of 11,000-square-feet, nine bedrooms, and nine bathrooms are on the table. The lower levels contain three private residences, each also in Rudolph’s style. For more information on these extraordinary accommodations, Lena Datwani and Jonathan Hettinger of Sotheby’s have the listing.