Inside the Humbert & Poyet model residence at 53 West 53 in New York

Mar 23, 2026

Cover Humbert & Poyet and Pontiac Land Group unveil a collector’s residence at 53 West 53 with art-led interiors and skyline views

Humbert & Poyet and Pontiac Land Group unveil a collector’s residence at 53 West 53 with art-led interiors and skyline views

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High above Midtown, Humbert & Poyet make their New York debut inside Jean Nouvel’s landmark tower, presenting an apartment shaped around art, craft and the city skyline

Perched on the 69th floor of 53 West 53, the landmark tower designed by Pritzker Prize-winning French architect Jean Nouvel, a model residence featuring interiors from Thierry Despont was recently unveiled. Conceived by Humbert & Poyet, the model apartment introduces a clear position on living at height, treating its art collection as part of the architecture and giving the interior a presence that can stand up to the skyline outside.

The address itself carries weight. The tower rises 1,050 feet above Midtown and sits directly above the Museum of Modern Art. From the outset, 53 West 53 has aligned itself with the art world. This residence pushes that relationship further by weaving artworks and furniture into the spatial plan.

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Above Art pieces are placed throughout the home, where it holds its own against the majestic skyline

Above Large windows offer clear views of Central Park

Art pieces are placed throughout the home, where it holds its own against the majestic skyline

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Developed by Pontiac Land Group and marketed by Douglas Elliman Development Marketing, Residence 69 spans 5,772 sq ft along a fully glazed perimeter. Humbert & Poyet organised the home as a sequence of rooms that compress and open out. The entry is more enclosed and directs the view forward, while the living and dining areas face Central Park and sit close to the glass façade so the skyline remains part of daily life.

This sense of progression anchors the layout. A bar and library connect to the main salon and support everyday rituals of hosting and reading. A private office occupies the southwest corner and offers a more contained setting within the plan. The primary suite forms its own zone on the southern edge where morning light arrives first. Its focal point is a custom headboard in layered plaster and fabric, made as a permanent feature within the room.

Another key collaboration is with Atelier de la Torre, with whom Humbert & Poyet developed custom decorative finishes across the entrance, living spaces, and kitchen

In the southwest corner of the residence, a private office has been conceived as a quieter cocoon within the home’s plan

Signature pieces, including the living room sofa and dining table, were made expressly for the project with Philippe Hurel

Photo 1 of 3 Another key collaboration is with Atelier de la Torre, with whom Humbert & Poyet developed custom decorative finishes across the entrance, living spaces, and kitchen

Photo 2 of 3 In the southwest corner of the residence, a private office has been conceived as a quieter cocoon within the home’s plan

Photo 3 of 3 Signature pieces, including the living room sofa and dining table, were made expressly for the project with Philippe Hurel

Another key collaboration is with Atelier de la Torre, with whom Humbert & Poyet developed custom decorative finishes across the entrance, living spaces, and kitchen

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Art shapes the apartment from the start. Works by Jasper Johns, Raven Halfmoon and Magdalena Shummer-Fangor appear throughout the residence, developed in collaboration with Creative Art Partners. Their placement influences scale and pacing across the rooms, allowing future buyers to understand how a collection might live within the space.

Material choices strengthen the identity of the interior. Many pieces are bespoke, including furniture created with Philippe Hurel. Bronze works and finishes come from European ateliers such as Fodor and La Vie en Bronze. Textiles draw on the collections of Pierre Frey, Métaphores and Nobilis, while rugs are made to measure with Galerie Diurne. In the entrance and living areas, a scraped painting technique developed with Atelier de la Torre produces surfaces that shift with daylight and read almost like enamelled ceramic.

Sunlight streaming into one of the bedrooms

Another bedroom in the apartment, beautifully layered with vibrant textures and textiles

A bar area and library sit adjacent to the living space

Photo 1 of 3 Sunlight streaming into one of the bedrooms

Photo 2 of 3 Another bedroom in the apartment, beautifully layered with vibrant textures and textiles

Photo 3 of 3 A bar area and library sit adjacent to the living space

Sunlight streaming into one of the bedrooms

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All of this unfolds within Nouvel’s structure, where angled lines and exposed concrete define the façade. The designers focused on introducing intimacy while keeping the horizon visible. Partitions, varied ceiling heights and carefully placed lighting guide movement through the apartment and help each room hold its own against the surrounding views.

The launch arrives at a moment when top-tier residential design in New York is shifting direction. For years, many high-rise apartments followed a neutral formula. This residence points to a different expectation. Buyers encounter a fully realised interior with a strong design language and a clear relationship to art and craft.

Above The primary suite was developed with Ateliers Tollis, where bespoke craftsmanship anchors the most intimate rooms of the residence

Above A sunlit lounge area

The primary suite was developed with Ateliers Tollis, where bespoke craftsmanship anchors the most intimate rooms of the residence

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There is also a broader cultural thread running through the project. French design once played a role in shaping New York’s Art Deco identity. Humbert & Poyet’s work signals a contemporary return to that exchange. Craft, material knowledge and a disciplined sense of atmosphere define the approach here.

For prospective buyers, Residence 69 serves as a working example of what a finished home in a glass tower can look like today. The project suggests that views alone are no longer the main story. At 53 West 53, the interior now carries equal weight.