Baxter - NYC Penthouses
Living + Density
Project type
New York, NY
Location
Architect
Role
The Baxter Penthouses a rare duplex that pairs pre-war loft character with crisp modern transparency. Located at the crossroads of SoHo, NoLiTa, Chinatown, and Tribeca, the residence occupies the top of the historic Grand Machinery Exchange, offering exceptional light, privacy, and indoor–outdoor living in a boutique condominium setting.
Challenge
The opportunity was to reconcile two distinct architectural conditions within a single home: a light-filled, glass-forward penthouse level and a deeply tactile, pre-war loft below. The challenge lay in maintaining openness and flow while preserving the building’s century-old character and ensuring privacy within a dense urban context.
Solution
The upper level is organized as an open great room anchored by a wood-burning fireplace and framed by floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors. A full-length terrace extends the living space outdoors, creating a seamless connection between interior and city beyond. The lower level is dedicated to private living, with generously scaled bedrooms arranged beneath original timber beams and tall ceilings, offering a calm retreat from the energy above.
Materials + Craft
Historic materials—including white-washed masonry walls, exposed timber beams, yellow pine ceilings, and oak floors—ground the lower level in its industrial past, while steel-framed windows and clean modern detailing define the penthouse above. The result is a residence that balances loft heritage and modern livability, celebrating light, volume, and material contrast within one of Lower Manhattan’s most storied buildings.
