26 Gramercy Park S

Alchemy: A James Turrell Space Light, space and location is the media that James Turrell, the Artist, works with. A location such as the Guggenheim Museum requires conceptualized and manufactured spaces or rooms, utilizing artificial and programed light as a key component in the piece. On the other hand, Turrell's Skyspaces uses natural phenomena, the sky, as the prominent presence. So here too at 26 Gramercy Park South we witness the result of alchemy when Units 5A and B were combined by James Turrell. Of course, the difference is that this is a space to live in; a functional and permanent environment. Turrell has designed the 1 Bed/2 Bath, expansive Great Room apartment with his singular sensibility. As the sky in his "Skyspaces" is the focal point, Gramercy Park with its seasonal change of landscape and ever-shifting light is the heart and focus of the space. The Great Room, incorporating the kitchen, has all four windows facing north to the Park. The 2 south-facing windows symmetrically placed on the east/west rear corners provides an additional source of light in the Great Room. The dramatic space with high ceilings and 4" wide plank Australian cherry-wood floors beautifully co-exists with the minimally designed full kitchen, and wood cabinetry. The hermetic appliances, all top of the line: Miele dishwasher, Sub-Zero 4-drawer fridge, Wolf range with Miele oven plus the long and sleek black marble counter space provides the perfect kitchen for entertaining. Upon entering the apartment, one is confronted by a long black stone hallway with a wood closet serving as dead-end. The sense of mystery is played out, a Turrell trademark, and once reaching the end of the hallway, a large enclosed wall of storage space becomes visible, at which either end opens onto the Great Room. Turrell's sense of lighting is amazingly displayed in the 2 full baths. His use of frosted glass walls running parallel to the wall of closets, with the corner turn of E/W frosted glass walls visible at the end of the hallway provides each bath's interior with a natural and spectacular light show. The marble baths are stunning installations, with the Turrell trademark forms: elliptical-shaped mirrors, egg-shaped sensual bath, and elongated marble sinks that seemingly organically evolve. The use of frosted doors, with cut-out circles for handles and frosted shower walls continues the consistency of design. The bedroom at the far end of the apartment, off the east bath, has 2 exposures east/west with great city and sky views radiating from both windows The purchaser of the apartment besides owning a James Turrell environment has the extra bonus and stature of acquiring a Key to the Park. Gramercy Park is in close proximity to amazing restaurants, as well as the wonderful Green Market, and is convenient to all public transportation.