Inside One Sutton Place South, New York's Timeless Elite Haven
One Sutton Place South, a historic New York co-op, has long attracted the city's elite. Built in 1926 with a steel fortune, the building was designed by Rosario Candela to mimic a grand mansion. Its U-shaped floors and Italianate details eventually won over wealthy Long Island mansion owners who initially hesitated to embrace apartment living.
The building's allure began with its distinctive architecture. Candela's design featured sweeping enfilades—aligned doorways creating long, unbroken sightlines—and meticulous symmetry. Even doors that were slightly off-centre were replaced to perfect the effect. Over the decades, its prestige grew, drawing residents like the Astors, Vanderbilts, and the daughter of J. Pierpont Morgan Sr. Later, fashion icon Bill Blass, socialite C.Z. Guest, and actress Sigourney Weaver also called it home.
Architectural historian Sam Watters first fell for the building in the 1980s. He attended a fundraiser in Marietta Tree's maisonette, hosted by Judy Peabody, and was captivated by its grandeur. Though he once tried to buy a unit, he lacked the financial means and social standing at the time.
Decades later, in 2021, Watters finally got his chance. The maisonette opposite Tree's old residence went on the market, and he purchased it. For the renovation, he turned to his longtime design partner, Tim Button, marking their 30th collaboration. Button reworked the layout to enhance the airy feel, carefully adjusting entrances to restore the classic enfilades that defined the building's elegance.
The renovation preserved the co-op's historic charm while modernising its flow. Watters and Button's work ensured the apartment stayed true to Candela's original vision. Today, One Sutton Place South remains a landmark of luxury and architectural precision in New York.
