CURRENT VIEWING: SALES AND DESIGN GALLERY FOR 56 LEONARD : INTERIORS BY Shelton, Mindel and Associates

Modernism as classicism by Shelton, Mindel and Associates

On my way in to the gym today I stopped by the sales office for the most coveted glass box tower in Manhattan right now, the 56 Leonard Street development being masterminded by Herzog and De Mueron. The post-recession Manhattan skyline is jammed with some pretty audacious developments but the staggered floors of this 60 story tower has got to be the sexiest of them all . ( We can't wait to see what Rem Koolhass will eventually have to say on 22nd Street).

I was really dazzled however by the interiors as projected by Shelton, Milton and Associates. To begin with, I loved that the space didn't go for forced innovation but took all the tropes of mid-century modernism as a kind of classical language of its own. But this wasn't old modernism but a custom modernism, which in my eyes made for a HUGE difference. The acryclic and aluminum pendant fixtures hovering over the kitchen island was sculptural as was a black glass Todd Bracher side table in the bath room. The custom seating with gray wool flannel was really refined and solves that great problem of serving great lines without looking like office furniture. Of course the cheapest apartments in the development start at 3mil , which means it is a very good thing that nobody asked for TI's financials before opening that door!