Gilded Age Manhattan Townhouse Restored to Its Former Glory
In the heart of Manhattan's prestigious Upper East Side near Central Park, 4 East 79th Street stands as a tribute to history, a testament to restoration, and an embodiment of architectural elegance.
When railroad magnate Henry H. Cook built his home, he bought up the whole block to ensure he would be in good company, and sold off each of the lots to prominent members of New York society to build their trophy homes.
4 East 79th Street was purchased by James E. Nichols, a successful New York businessman who commissioned architect C.P.H. Gilbert, known for his opulent, chateau-inspired Francois Ier style, to build his limestone townhouse.
The 35-foot wide mansion is adorned with scrolled carvings, intricate cornices, curved mullions, and a copper-clad mansard roof. With exposure on 3 sides, the property benefits from an abundance of natural light and Central Park views.
Its most recent owner, the late businessman and philanthropist, Aso O. Tavitian enlisted Peter Pennoyer and Theodore Prudon, among others, to restore the limestone townhouse to its former glory as a private residence (in the 1940s, the French Mission to the United Nations converted the townhouse into offices and several apartments).
With no expense spared and using the original detail and research as their inspiration and guide, the Gilded Age townhouse offers 15,200 sq ft of living spaces with state-of-the-art updates, while featuring carved plaster crown moldings, marble paneling and floors, solid mahogany doors and windows, parquet de Versailles and herringbone white oak floors.
There are 6 (or more) bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, and 4 powder rooms across the residence, which offers a full-floor primary suite.
Spanning 7 stories, the mansion has a grand marble staircase on the lower levels, and a passenger elevator that services all floors up to a penthouse-level gym and rooftop terrace.
In addition to the main kitchen, there’s also a catering kitchen in the basement, along with a climate-controlled walk-in wine cellar.
All photos belong to the listing agency.
