In Manhattan, everything is accessible at any time of the day or night, but living space is rather scarce. This is why buildings were constructed taller and taller, giving rise to the most famous panorama of skyscrapers in the world.
The first New York skyscrapers were built at the end of the 19th century. In 1910, the Woolworth Building, funded by millionaire Frank Winfield Woolworth (1852-1919), joined the cityscape to accommodate 2,000 offices and the new headquarters of the Woolworth distribution company. The project was entrusted to the architect Cass Gilbert (1859-1934), who designed a 57-storey neo-Gothic building, the tallest in the world at 790 feet when it was inaugurated on 24 April 1913.
At the dedication ceremony, Woolworth was in Washington, where he pressed a button that turned on the 80,000 lightbulbs that had been placed on the building. In total, Woolworth paid out $13.5 million in cash, an amount equivalent to just under $400 million (£290 mil) today.
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Since 2012, the top 30 floors of the building have been transformed into luxury apartments. The five-storey penthouse located in the pyramid top of the building is now on sale at Sotheby's International Realty for $79 million (£57.2 mil). It is considered "one of the last large unused spaces in New York City".
And there really is no reason to complain about a lack of space here, since the living space covers 9,600 ft² with a ceiling height of 23 feet. The breathtaking view of the city that never sleeps can be enjoyed from the 125 windows and a 408 ft² terrace. Other amenities include a lift, a fireplace, a gym and a swimming pool reserved for the residents of the 32 luxury apartments, as well as a wine cellar with tasting room.
The property is listed at Sotheby's under the name 'Pinnacle Penthouse', a more than appropriate name given its height and level of luxury.
