45-12 11th Street, 1

Elegance and excellent quality characterize this unique offering. Only one of two units in the building, this large two bedroom two bath offers remarkable privacy and exclusivity. Comfort and efficiency are blended with brand-new construction, top-of-the-line finishes, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, open kitchen, six ample closets with automated lights, and great light throughout. Viewing from the living room awash with morning light, one sees a terraced garden and a City park beyond. The master bedroom is large with an en-suite bath and the second bedroom could be used as a spacious office, den or sleeping room; both face a private garden.

The apartment consumes around 85% less energy than comparable structures without compromising an upmarket lifestyle. The house has German tilt-turn triple-pane windows with the spaces between panes filled with argon, an inert gas, that prevents frost in the winter and moisture corrosion. Heavier than air, argon also blocks both sound from the outside world and harmful ultraviolet sunlight.

Designed to benefit from the light shaft, all bathrooms and kitchen have windows, thereby allowing cross ventilation. Special room darkening shades block lights at night. The floors, made from ambrosia maple hardwood, were harvested from a certified sustainably managed forest (i.e., no clear felling) in New York State. The floor was coated with polyurethane and treated with ultraviolet light on the final coat to seal in any of the finishing chemicals. That prevents off-gassing and the chemical bond increases the wood’s durability. Lighting throughout is by LEDs that burn far longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, use a small fraction of the electricity, and are sleek and elegant. Central heating and cooling, when necessitated, is through an air filtered, energy efficient heat pump. The facade, an abstraction of the sky and inspired in part by Portuguese 18th century azulejo tiles and facades, is made from ceramic masonry, with a glaze derived from recycled materials. Other notable features include: heavy insulation throughout for temperature control, installed sound attenuation in all ceilings and perimeter walls, wired for all needs including internally with fiber optic cable, and assured privacy with a separate entrance. The bedrooms are spacious with large west facing windows overlooking a lovely organic vegetable and flower garden (30’ x 40’) that residents may enjoy as a viewing garden from their separate terrace. The kitchen offers everything one expects in a luxury rental yet focuses on environmental concerns, with the best energy-saving appliances including a dishwasher, along with special bio-based Marmoleum flooring that is highly durable, non-toxic, and anti-microbial. Both bathrooms have radiant heat flooring and Toto wall-hung dual-flush toilets. Showers are glass surrounded, and Italian glass tiled walls compliment the Italian porcelain floors. Distinct work areas further underscore the attention to contemporary lifestyles of this architect-designed apartment. In sum, comfortable and stylish living is assured by emphasis on privacy surrounded by quiet elegance and uniqueness. Transport: 45-12 11th Street is only two blocks from the #7, E, G and M subway entrances; six bus lines are within one to three blocks. By the E or M lines, it’s three minutes to Manhattan.