34 East 68th Street is a meticulously reimagined Neo-Grec townhouse originally built in 1879, located in the prestigious Upper East Side between Madison and Park Avenues. Designed by Michael Chen Architects, this residence combines modern luxury with historical charm, featuring over 11,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. The building showcases two innovative terra cotta façades, one of which is a stunning 30-foot tall vertical living garden, praised by the Landmarks Preservation Commission for its design and ecological consciousness.
The interior boasts a grand entry foyer with a custom sculpted ceiling and radiant heated black limestone flooring. The garden floor includes a south-facing kitchen equipped with Sub-Zero and Gaggenau appliances, along with a cozy dining area that overlooks the lush outdoor space. The parlor floor features an expansive 1,445 square foot entertaining area with twelve-and-a-half-foot ceilings, seamlessly connecting the formal living and dining rooms with a full-service pantry.
The master suite occupies the entire third floor, complete with a luxurious bathroom, a dressing room with a morning kitchen, and a private terrace. The upper floors house five additional bedrooms and four bathrooms, with an informal living space on the fifth floor that includes a full wet bar and a custom skylight installation by artist Sarah Oppenheimer. A glass penthouse structure leads to a roof garden equipped with an outdoor kitchen and seating.
Amenities include a high-speed elevator servicing all six floors, 15 zones of climate control, and advanced Crestron controls for environmental and audiovisual systems. The property also features six wood-burning fireplaces and automated irrigation systems for the gardens. Notably, the building has been home to celebrities such as Ryan Seacrest, adding to its allure as a residence steeped in both luxury and history.