Matthew Blesso has the creativity to turn any rundown space into luxury properties. The real estate developer recently bought a penthouse loft in 684 Broadway in NoHo and decided to transform it into a space that was a reflection of his personal taste. According to him designing this luxury penthouse for himself was a lot more difficult than creating  a living space for someone else. It involves something much deeper. And I must say, the result looks stunning.
Matthew Blesso Pours His Heart Into This Luxury Condo
The Broadway property was bought from architect Hugh Hardy for $4.325 million in 2006. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom luxury condo after its renovations is now listed for $8.95 million, more than double its old price. But that is because of all the value addition that the luxury apartment has incorporated. That includes a redo of the roof deck and complete gut renovation. The whole thing took 18 long months to complete and was overseen by architect Joel Sanders and Andrea Steele. The condo for sale is listed with Bernice Leventhal of Corcoran Group. Blesso has tried to integrate sustainable materials with the “industrial character” of the building. He has also gone green as is evident from the use of recycled blue jeans for making the insulation, the walnut floors that have been sourced from a sustainable forest and the custom made 1,000-pound table placed in the kitchen, which was carved from a tree that fell down naturally.
Rooftop with a Garden and Outdoor Shower
The more literal forms of green are seen in the vertical garden accompanying the master bathroom, which climbs up the wall to a skylight built as part of a 2,200 square feet roof deck. Here you have a beautiful rooftop garden, courtesy Blesso’s friend from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. It also offers an enviable view of the neighborhood and three East River bridges. If this wasn’t enough, Blesso also added an outdoor shower, a hot tub and a video screening area to treble the fun this roof can offer. I am sure everyone would love to have such a lovely rooftop garden and enough space to entertain people or just bask in the sun sipping lemonade.
A Great Specimen of New York Living
A bluish mural by graffiti artist Doze Green adds a unique touch to the entry and living area. The living room also has a fireplace, TV, and reading area. Mr. Blesso has already hosted several functions in this beautiful flat, one of which was a benefit for the Worldwide Orphans Foundation, which was attended by close to 300 people. Now he wants to have something in Brooklyn that would allow him greater proximity to the headquarters of Third Ward, an arts collective headed by Blesso himself. Blesso says this apartment suited him as it is a “space that embraces the downtown urban fabric, but at same time provides a tranquil respite from it.†This architectural delight offers more than 3,200 square feet of interior and 2,200 square feet of exterior space. Blesso is currently working on a boutique hotel in Panama.
