For those on the hunt for an oasis in the middle of Manhattan, a penthouse soon coming to market will deliver its next owner more than a dozen birch trees, wild grass, a plunge pool and more.
The dreamy aerie will ask around $5.99 million when it hits the market. It first listed for $8 million last year.
The seller, tech investment banker Tom O’Shea, bought the unit at 119 E. 29th St., near Madison Square Park, for $3.8 million in 2013. He then hired the architect and interior designer David Nosanchuk — who’s also an artist — for an intense renovation. The inspirations: everything from the Museum of Modern Art’s sculpture garden to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s red umbrellas for a retractable awning.
At 2,100 square feet, the residence comes with three bedrooms and three baths, plus this magical rooftop with those 20-foot-high birch trees, two apple trees, an infinity-edge plunge pool, an outdoor shower, a 15-foot-high limestone fireplace, a summer kitchen, a green wall and a dining area. It’s perfect for a summer-season hangout.
Along with the trees, the 1,300-square-foot rooftop is covered in a dazzling display of English ivy, passion flowers, pink and white mandevilla, trumpet flowers, akebia vines and morning glories. Tall Hakonechloa aureola “Japanese forest” grass surrounds the trees. Nosanchuk also worked his magic on the terrace’s night lighting.
The idea was to create a secluded, serene forest retreat in the heart of the city, said O’Shea, managing director of Broadview Capital.
“New York is warm eight to nine months of the year, and with the fireplace, the terrace can can easily be enjoyed year-round — even in the rain, thanks to the awning,” O’Shea said.
But “after 10 years and a divorce, it’s time for a change,” O’Shea added, crediting Nosanchuk for “opening his eyes to see beauty.” The two remain friends, and Nosanchuk credits O’Shea with “supporting his vision.”
Inside, there’s a great room that leads to a chef’s kitchen, a library with a study, and a main bedroom with a dressing area and an ensuite bath.
The building dates to 1920. Amenities include a gym.
The listing brokers will be Marlene Hamad and Mackenzie Kyle of Platinum Properties.