by Howard Morrel & Leslie Hirsch
57th Street Report
The stretch of 57th Street between 6th and Park Avenue is now famously known as Billionaires’ Row—a vertical forest of ultra-skinny, mega-tall luxury towers. But why here, and why do they look the way they do?
Much of the answer lies in a brilliant architectural breakdown by Nick Potts, featured in a video for Architectural Digest called “Why The World’s Tallest Apartment Buildings Are On The Same NYC Street”. What follows is a summary and expansion of the forces—zoning, history, engineering, and ego—that made this surreal skyline possible.
1. Historical Urban Planning (1811 Commissioner’s Plan)
Manhattan’s original grid plan designated certain east-west streets as “wide streets,” including 57th. Zoning laws later
allowed taller buildings on these wider streets due to increased light and air access.
57th Street is the northernmost wide street before Central Park, making it the only one with direct park views—perfect for luxury towers aiming to maximize value through commanding vistas.
2. Commodification of Views
Central Park views became some of the most coveted real estate on Earth. Developers leveraged this by pushing height limits, aiming to elevate premium apartments above the skyline.
This led to the rise of the super-tall, super-skinny tower: fewer units, higher prices, and better views—all driven by the logic of luxury.
3. Modern Building Technology
Over the past two decades, improvements in materials, engineering, and mechanical systems have made it possible to build these incredibly tall, slender buildings. Known as “pencil towers,” they are often residential-only, with fewer elevators and smaller floor plates, enabling greater height on limited land.
Notable Buildings on Billionaires’ Row
One57 (2014)
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Height: 1,004 feet
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First residential supertall on 57th Street.
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Designed by Christian de Portzamparc with a rippling glass façade, metaphorically styled as a “waterfall.”
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Controversial at launch, now seen as relatively modest compared to its successors.
432 Park Avenue (2015)
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Height: 1,397 feet
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Iconic square footprint: 90 ft x 90 ft
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Innovation: Slim design made possible by being fully residential (fewer elevators, more open space).
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Structural system: Exoskeleton frame with strategically placed windbreak floors.
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Developers purchased a Park Avenue-facing lot purely to claim the prestigious address.
111 West 57th Street (2023)
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Height: 1,425 feet — the narrowest skyscraper in the world
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Built like a vertical I-beam with two townhouse-width base.
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Incorporates multiple setbacks to create terraces, inspired by the 1916 zoning laws.
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Clad in terracotta and bronze—nods to historic NYC materiality.
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A modern addition to the 1925 Steinway Building.
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Designed by SHoP Architects.
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Fun fact: This tower is narrated in detail by project architect Nick Potts in his Architectural Digest video, which offers a rare insider’s look into the design strategy and technical innovations behind this record-breaking tower.
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Features tuned mass dampers and windbreak floors to stabilize the narrow structure.
Want to learn more? Let’s talk!
All the best,
Howard Morrel & Leslie Hirsch
Christie’s International Real Estate Group
(212) 956-4823
mha@christiesrealestategroup.com
