Design of Children’s Playroom Reached New Heights within West Chelsea’s High-end Residential Development

Lux Exposé

The Cortland, a new luxury development boasting 144 residences and a handful of engaging amenities located across the Hudson River Park in NYC’s West Chelsea, debuts a lively, well-designed playroom.

Conceived by Olson Kundig to be as functional as it is fun, the double-height “Beluga Pod” is a colorfully immersive two-level playroom that both parents and children will enjoy. Drawing inspiration from the marine environment that defines the western edge of Manhattan, and sightings of whales in the river, the Seattle-based architects integrated and merged the organic shapes found in nature with angular forms commonly found in architecture. The result is an extraordinary playroom that engages children of all ages and abilities.

Featuring architecture by Robert A.M. Stern and interiors by Olson Kundig, the luxury waterfront residential building pays tribute to neighborhood’s rich industrial history and architecture. The intricate façade is made using a mix of limestone, brick and metal detailing and features over one million hand-made and hand-laid bricks. Olson Kundig, the Seattle-based architecture studio created elegant and comfortable interiors that are inspired by west coast aesthetics.

Besides the double-height “Beluga Pod”, The Cortland boasts a number of dedicated spaces for all ages including “Sandbox Powered by Related,” a STEAM-focused maker space to create, invent, and learn; a game room with lounge seating and activities including ping pong, foosball, and shuffleboard; and a leisure pool, a child-friendly pool with a glass portal looking up into the children’s playroom. Wellness offerings include a 11,200 square foot health club with a 75-foot lap pool, a private woodlined yoga and fitness studio, a pilates studio. Residents also have access to a private rooftop terrace featuring multiple seating and grilling areas, a VR room for enjoying the latest VR content and a screening room that can also double as a performance space.