From a safari-themed room designed by a children's museum expert to a whimsical forest that looks like a scene straight out of a storybook, these luxurious condominiums prove that developers and designers are thinking as much about their youngest residents as they are adults, and the increased desire to create amenity spaces that offer something for every age.
1. Waterline Square
At Waterline Square on Manhattan's Upper West Side, GID Development Group tapped renowned children's museum and aquarium designer Roto to create an exceptional interactive experience inside their 4,600-square-foot children's playroom. The design of the playroom centers on a fictional adventure story that takes children on a journey around the world to Stonehenge, on safari in Africa, to the Egyptian pyramids, surfing in Australia, to the islands of Hawaii and beyond. Each space is designed to be highly interactive and features fun elements such as a slide, boat and safari car.
2. Front & York
Designed in and out by Morris Adjmi, Front & York is pioneering an unprecedented amenity-driven lifestyle in DUMBO, with 150,000 square feet of amenity spaces. The bright and airy children's playroom was inspired by DUMBO's creative culture and sports clever design features like interactive art walls. Designed to grow with every age and interest, the playroom is next to the development's game room and music studio to offer something for toddlers to teens and everyone in between.
3. Vandewater
Designed by the celebrated INC Architecture & Design, Vandewater boasts 24,000 square feet of programmed indoor and outdoor space, including The Little Forest Children's Playroom. The playroom's calming color palette and nature-inspired furnishings gently contrast with a custom wall mural by illustrator Rebecca Romeo. Every detail has been thoughtfully designed to ignite young imaginations. There's also an adjacent craft room, the perfect spot for budding artists to test their creative endeavors.
4. Lantern House
SKOLNICK was commissioned to create a children’s activity room at the Thomas Heatherwick-designed Lantern House in West Chelsea. Designed for kids from toddlers to age 7, the room is a flexible space for facilitated programs, children’s parties and play opportunities that spark the imagination. Colorful play elements constructed into the room include building blocks, a pool noodle sculpture wall, a kaleidoscope and a unique sequin-covered “art wall." These are complimented by a built-in reading nook, magnetic surfaces for attaching art projects, video projection screen and a kitchenette for clean-up and snacks, alongside an adjacent outdoor terrace.
5. 200 East 83rd
Children will never want to leave the kid's playroom at 200 East 83rd, the new 35-story Robert A.M. Stern Architects-designed residential tower on the Upper East Side. While designing the monumental amenities spaces at the building, interior design firm Rottet Studio paid equal mind to the children's amenities, creating a luxe safari-inspired playroom that brings out one's inner adventurer. Using soft, neutral tones and natural textures to mimic sand, wood and greenery, Rottet Studio delivered a playful kids' oasis that's as appealing to adults as it is to children.
6. 212 West 72nd Street
CetraRuddy, the award-winning architecture firm, is reimagining the ultra-modern building into a luxury condominium called 212 West 72nd Street. As a part of the conversion, CetraRuddy has created all-new amenity spaces for the building, including a colorful children’s playroom featuring cutout banquettes for studying, homework or snack time. The space was designed to inspire children’s imagination with fun donut wallpaper and chic play sets. The playroom is conveniently located adjacent to the building’s residents lounge so that parents can easily supervise while enjoying their own private space. These common areas open onto an outdoor interior courtyard, where kids can continue their play.
7. 505 W 43
In the hands of Andres Escobar & Associates, the amenities at 505 W 43 match the young, vibrant feel of this luxury Midtown condo by ODA Architects. The polished yet fun children’s playroom achieves exactly that by offering 505 W 43’s youngest residents a dedicated space to learn, experiment and play. A modern take on the kid-friendly amenity space, this children's playroom features a classically chic black and white color palette, providing a clean canvas to inspire creativity and imagination and a simple backdrop for children to embellish with colorful toys, games and art supplies. The room's climbable play structure adds an extra element of youthfulness and a pop of color with a contrasting red slide that brightens the space.
