Just around the corner from the Museum of Natural History, moments from Central Park, and in the heart of the Upper West Side is 137 West 77th Street, a newly renovated, historic single-family mansion. Semi-detached, allowing exposures from three sides, the row house was built in the 1890s, and still features many of the original details while incorporating extensive modern elements as part of a redesign by the Turett Collaborative. Spanning nearly 7,000 square feet on an extra-deep, 109-foot lot, the home offers many outdoor spaces, including a front patio, a roof terrace, a terrace off the principal bedroom, and a generously sized backyard. In every sense, the house is built with both comfort and scale in mind, from the private elevator to the many automation systems.

Entering the house on the parlor level, up the original exterior entryway, one is first struck by the light pouring in from all sides: from the south, particularly given the setback from the street; from the north, where the floor-through layout peeks into the living room; from the west, where no adjacent building obstructs the light; and finally from above, from where a skylight illuminates the entire interior staircase all the way down to the garden level. The staircase itself is a marvel; the centerpiece of the house, it was built by Prandoni Fabrication and Design, and includes glass guardrails, and wood steps and handrails. Opposite the stairs is the hydraulic elevator, with a mural by artist Miguel Paredes, and a full wall covered with tulip poplar bark. The flooring, here as throughout the upper levels of the house, is made of reclaimed barn wood. The parlor opens to the formal living room, which overlooks the back garden. An office, with an en-suite rounds out the floor.

The garden floor features the kitchen, the dining area, and the double-height great room. The kitchen is appointed to the highest level with SubZero and Wolf appliances. The cabinets, countertops, and backsplash are all finished white, with texture provided by the same poplar bark under the eat-in counter seating. In addition to the counter seating, the dining area easily accommodates seating for 12.

The dining area opens to a spectacular sitting and entertaining area. The east wall is covered in poplar bark, a pleasant contrast from the white kitchen and concrete floor. The west wall stuns with a double-height column, almost 23-feet tall and above a 12-foot-wide automatic fireplace; this column serves as home to a two-story projection art piece by artist Ira Levy. Windows of that same height bathe the area in northern light from the garden, which is almost 40 feet deep and includes a large seating area and a full outdoor kitchen, plus privacy plantings on all sides. No sound from outside seeps in, nor do inclement temperatures, as the windows are triple pane for noise reduction and an increased thermal insulation level.

Up the stairs – or the elevator, should you choose – to the fourth floor, where the whole floor is dedicated to the primary suite. A beacon of tranquility and relaxation, the primary suite not only includes a large en-suite bathroom with double vanity made of gray stone and a windowed soaking tub, it also has a separate lounge/massage room, plus a dry sauna. The lounge has a wet bar and a fireplace, in addition to a powder room. Two walk-in closets and a private terrace complete the floor. Just floor up is the roof terrace, where another sitting and kitchen area provides for excellent entertaining, plus views of the Upper West Side.

The third floor includes two additional bedroom suites, each with its own walk-in closet and full en-suite bathroom. A den, or playroom, and a laundry closet, complete the floor. Down below, a finished basement offers additional storage, a full laundry room, a gym or recreation room, another full bathroom, and the building's mechanicals.

137 West 77th Street was redesigned with myriad modern conveniences to make townhouse living as modern and seamless as possible. There are radiant heated floors throughout the house, including at the parlor entry, in the backyard, and on the roof to melt the snow during the winter. Each floor is zoned separately for heating and cooling, and the HVAC is completely silent; the building’s envelope is designed for ultra-high energy efficiency and insulation. An AMX system controls all the home’s automations, including lights, sound, TV, A/V, the projection, and the motorized shades – all of which is standard throughout the house. The entire house has on-demand hot water, in-house water filtration, and a leak protection system with automatic shutoff. A central alarm and security camera system provides ideal safety, and it is all supported by an Intellitec System with cellular backup. Finally, there is a fiber internet feed ensuring all systems, plus streaming entertainment, work flawlessly.