South End penthouse has Phillippe Starck imprint
At the corner of Warren Avenue and Berkeley Street in the South End there is a
building that seems to have everything going for it; a classic brick and sandstone Colonial Revival exterior, sleek contemporary interior design, and an environmentally sensitive “green” roof, planted with low-maintenance grasses and sedums.
Now known as D4, the former District Four police station has been converted to condominiums, and an elegant corner duplex is on the market. Michael Berger of Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty has listed Penthouse 19 at $1.549 million.
Construction on D4 took place between 2005 and 2007. It was a project of Boston-based Urbanica Inc. and Demeter Development Group LLC, two firms with considerable expertise in adaptive reuse of existing structures.
Design was by the internationally renowned London-based designer, Phillippe Starck. There are 25 units in the building, nearly all of them owner-occupied.
Just off the lobby of D4, a fabulous winter garden rises the full height of the building to a glass roof. With a marble mosaic tile floor, playful Starck furniture and greenery everywhere, the space is inviting and playful.
Near the top, a glittering Venetian glass chandelier sparkles.
The door to Penthouse 19 opens to a spacious foyer with a coat closet on one side and the utility closet on the other.
With counters and backsplash of striking Cervaiole marble, Arclinea cabinetry and the latest in appliances, the kitchen is both sleek and highly functional.
A wide hallway leads to the L-shaped living and dining area, passing by the kitchen on the left.
These more public living areas have been beautifully staged and are sophisticated and urbane. A large gas fireplace is on one wall in the living area and comfortable seating is arranged around it.
Because this is a corner unit, there are windows on two sides, and the natural light is lovely. The dining area takes advantage of such a corner and, in addition to the light, offers nice views outside.
This is flexible space, however, and offers lots of possibilities for furniture placement. Bamboo floors throughout the residence unify all the spaces.
The kitchen is truly wonderful with a massive island, countertops and ingeniously designed backsplash of Cervaiole marble, a dramatically veined stone that is found in all of the bathrooms as well.
Corner windows in the dining area provide soft natural light.
The Arclinea zebra wood cabinets provide an abundance of storage space, and the high-end appliances include a Bosch gas cooktop, wall oven, microwave and dishwasher, a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a terrific pot-filler faucet in the sink.
The first level of this home also features one of its three bedrooms, a space that would also be perfectly suited as a home office or den.
There is also a full marble bath with, of course, Phillippe Starck fixtures, as well as a laundry closet with a stacking Bosch Axxis washer and dryer.
On the second level is the master suite with a really huge bedroom and plenty of space for a nice sitting room or a fitness area or even a home office.
The walk-in closet is really enormous, and the master bath is as sumptuous as can be, a beautiful marble-clad room with double vessel sinks, a big soaking tub and a separate walk-in shower with a frameless glass door.
The third bedroom and its full marble bath are also on this level and so is the stair to the roof garden outside. A skylight hatch opens to Penthouse 19’s individual space (each of the six penthouses has one) where the city views are panoramic.
The sumptuous master bath features dramatically veined marble and double Phillippe Starck vessel sinks.
The perimeter of the roof is lined with beds of river stone and plantings that are interesting even in the dead of winter! Low water, low maintenance plants, primarily grasses and sedums, are used here. It is an unusual and visually appealing garden.
The mechanical systems for this home are essentially brand new. Heating and cooling are forced air by gas, and since gas is included in the condo fee, owners are responsible only for the electricity required to run the fans.
This unit has deeded tandem parking spaces in the underground garage, where a good-sized bicycle rack is located. D4 is a professionally managed, pet-friendly building, and a concierge is on duty Monday through Friday and half a day on Saturday.
DETAILS
Address: D4, 7 Warren Ave. Penthouse 19, South End
Age: 1935; 2007
BR/BA: Three bedrooms, three baths
Price: $1.549 million
Size: 1,920 +/- square feet
Taxes: $14,594 (with residential exemption)
Condo fees: $1,560 per month (includes heating and cooling with exception of electricity for fan)
Features of building: Former police station converted to boutique residential complex with 25 condos with interiors designed by Phillippe Starck; winter garden atrium with glass roof; central air conditioning and forced hot air by gas; staffed by a concierge; pet-friendly.
Features of unit: Corner penthouse duplex with open floor plan; living area with gas fireplace and generous dining area; stunning kitchen with oversized marble island, Italian cabinetry and high-end appliances; in-unit laundry; bamboo flooring and recessed lighting throughout; first level guest room/den/study with full marble bath; second level master suite with huge bedroom, walk-in closet and marble master bath with double vanity, tub and separate shower and second bedroom and full marble bath; access to private roof garden; two deeded tandem spaces in underground garage.
Close by: South End restaurants, shops and galleries; Boston Center for the Arts, Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, Huntington Theater; Museum of Fine Arts; Northeastern University; Boston University Medical Center; Prudential Center; short walk to MBTA Orange and Green Lines; automobile access to Route 93 North and South and Massachusetts Turnpike.
Contact: Michael Berger, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, 556 Tremont St., Boston, MA 02118. Phones: 617-426-6900 (office) or 617-543-8015 (cell).
Website: www.gibsonsothebysrealty.com
This property may be seen by appointment.
