Renderings of Malabar Residences by Brick Visual for ODA Architecture
Topped out at 28 stories and 388 feet tall, The Malabar Residences is a playfully pixelated totem of apartments nearing completion at the corner of East 56th Street and Lexington Avenue. Developed by owner MRR LLC and designed by ODA Architecture, the 175,000-square-foot structure will bring 145 condominium residences, above ground-floor retail, to a bustling stretch of Midtown East, just outside the Plaza District and some of the Upper East Side’s toniest blocks.
While most of the building’s bulk is positioned along Lexington Avenue and calmer East 56th Street, the parcel includes a lot that extends north to East 57th Street. It will go by the address 126 East 57th Street, tying it directly to the cultural cachet of Billionaires’ Row, even if the area’s luster has dimmed somewhat due to stalled projects and the loss of historic character.
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In preparation for the impending sales launch, the offering plan was recently approved by the New York Attorney General’s Office, officially pricing the first batch of soon-to-be-released units. Douglas Elliman will lead sales and marketing of the studio-to-three-bedroom condo residences, where over two-thirds of which will have private outdoor space.
Rendering of Malabar Residences by Brick Visual for ODA Architecture
Initial pricing averages just under $3,100 per square foot. Studio units, which average 557 square feet, will range from $1.48M to $2.27M. One-bedrooms averaging 733 square feet will range from $1.93M to $2.51M. Two-bedrooms, at an average of 1,276 square feet, will be priced from $3.73M to $4.66M. The three-bedroom collection, which includes four culminating penthouses, will ask between $5.5M and $12.5M.
Over 100 of the 145 residences will have private outdoor space in the form of intimate balconies, loggias, terraces, and spacious roof decks for penthouse units.
Still, The Malabar Residences promises to stand out among its taller and skinnier peers. What it lacks in height, it makes up for in architectural dynamism. Its sculptural design by ODA resembles a rediscovered urban relic or a ziggurat ruin unearthed in Midtown. Rising in cascading tiers, the tower’s pixelated and cascading form carves out generous terraces and deep planters at every level, introducing rhythm and greenery into a very dense corner of the city.
The cast-in-place concrete façade and large square windows are a textural counterpoint to the sheer glassiness of nearby towers. The aesthetic recalls ODA’s earlier experiments with sculptural massing at 98 Front Street in DUMBO and 22-22 Jackson Avenue in Long Island City. While more costly than flat curtain walls, this stacked-box approach prioritizes daylight, outdoor space, and human scale, qualities that will seem invaluable in this dense corner of Midtown.
“This building brings a human scale, playfulness, and visual interest to this upscale corridor of 57th Street,” said Eran Chen, Founder and Executive Director of ODA. “As New York City slowly transforms Midtown East into a residential destination, we strive to offer a contemporary outlook for the tastemakers and young professional buyers who value high design.”
The Malabar Residences at 126 East 57th Street in May 2025 (CityRealty)
126 East 57th Street from 56th Street
Amenities will include a porte-cochere, indoor swimming pool, spa, steam room and sauna, fitness center, multipurpose sports court with basketball, several lounges including an event lounge with a demonstration kitchen, a children’s playroom, and multiple amenity terraces, including a landscaped rooftop.
Sales are expected to launch in the coming months with the first closings anticipated for this fall.
The Malabar sits in the heart of one of Manhattan’s most prestigious office and retail corridors. Central Park, Bloomingdale’s, and the city’s flagship Apple store are within walking distance. Transit options abound at the nearby Lexington Avenue-59th Street-63rd Street subway complex, offering access to the 4, 5, 6, N, R, W, Q, and F trains.
Sales are expected to launch in the coming months with the first closings anticipated for this fall.
The Malabar sits in the heart of one of Manhattan’s most prestigious office and retail corridors. Central Park, Bloomingdale’s, and the city’s flagship Apple store are within walking distance. Transit options abound at the nearby Lexington Avenue-59th Street-63rd Street subway complex, offering access to the 4, 5, 6, N, R, W, Q, and F trains.
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