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9 starchitect-designed studio apartments available in NYC

Proof that living in a high-profile building doesn't have to come with a high price tag

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Despite what you might think, living in a starchitect-designed building isn't solely the domain of the überwealthy—assuming, of course, that you don't mind cozy living quarters. There actually are a handful of studio apartments available in the New York City buildings designed by modern architecture's cream of the crop—Bjarke Ingels, Jean Nouvel, Enrique Norten, and other big names who've put their stamp on the city. And even though these starchitects are better known for their luxe, over-the-top residences (heck, Annabelle Selldorf's latest Soho condos just launched from $8.25 million), the apartments featured here are, by and large, still rather stylish, if understatedly so.

Here, we've mapped out nine of the smallest starchitect-designed studio apartments available in New York City right now (both rentals and those for sale); if we've missed a building or a particularly cool, tiny apartment, let us know in the comments.

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New York by Gehry, #17U

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Frank Gehry's only New York City residential project happens to be a rental building, with apartments ranging in size from enormous to itty-bitty. This unit falls into the latter category; while there's no square footage associated with it, the living space is only about 233 square feet, with the kitchen and entryway adding a bit more. The rent is $3,110 per month, which also gets you access to the building's fancy amenities, as well as bragging rights from living in a place designed by one of the world's most famous architects.

The Verdesian

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There's not much in the way of a description for this Battery Park City studio, which measures 500 square feet and is asking $3,250 per month. But it's bright, and can fit a bed and a couch, so that's something. It's located in the Verdesian, which was designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli and opened a decade ago.

100 11th Ave, #3A

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Once upon a time, this studio in Jean Nouvel's shiny West Chelsea building was for sale, with a just-in-the-six-digit-club ask of $950,000. Since then, it's gotten the slightest of revamps, but the particulars remain the same: it has but one sad little window, it measures only 430 square feet, and the kitchen is just as shiny as the building itself. The rental price is $3,600 and includes access to the building's pool and other amenities.

100 East 53rd Street, #14B

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This apartment in the Norman Foster-designed tower at 100 East 53rd Street isn't exactly small—it measures more than 1,000 square feet, after all—but it is the smallest studio currently available in the building. The brokerbabble describes it thusly: "Interiors elegantly conceal service functions, balance city views and domestic intimacy, and allocate generous space for art." So, uh, there's that. It has a common space, "sleeping alcove," and large bathroom, all for the ridiculous price of $2.6 million.

Mercedes House

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Enrique Norten's TEN Arquitectos designed this modern ziggurat on West 54th Street, which is home to ridiculous amenities (a basketball court! an outdoor pool!) and a bunch of rentals, including this wee studio. Measuring just 420 square feet (nice), the apartment doesn't come with much space, but it has fancy appliances, solar shades, oak floors, and "sunset views," apparently.

Aalto57, #7Q

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Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is the firm behind this building, which is divided into a rental and condo portion. The smallest unit that's currently available is a 461-square-foot studio with huge windows, a washer-dryer in-unit, and a "unique movable" kitchen island, whatever that means. It's going for $3,650 per month.

Via 57 West, #1711

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The hottest architect of the moment is Bjarke Ingels, and if you're the sort of person who cares about that kind of pedigree, you could snag a teeny studio in his "courtscraper" at 625 West 57th Street for $3,291 per month. The apartment isn't large—again, there's no official square footage listed—but it does have a washer-dryer unit, a walk-in closet, and a dishwasher, all amenities that someone may be convinced to give up space for. And of course, there are the building's amenities, including lush, landscaped communal gardens.

300 Ashland, #10J

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Enrique Norten's TEN Arquitectos is behind the new rental building rising at 300 Ashland Place, right at the crossroads of Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene. The smallest available apartment measures 431 square feet, but thanks to its large windows and high ceilings, still looks like it's slightly bigger than its actual size. It's renting for $2,630 per month, and the building itself has a full-floor "club level" along with private outdoor spaces.

City Tower Brooklyn

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COOKFOX's rental tower within the City Point megaproject in Downtown Brooklyn began welcoming residents earlier this year, and some apartments are still available. One is this itty-bitty studio asking $2,654 per month, which admittedly has a bit of an odd layout (it's wedged into a corner, basically).

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New York by Gehry, #17U

Frank Gehry's only New York City residential project happens to be a rental building, with apartments ranging in size from enormous to itty-bitty. This unit falls into the latter category; while there's no square footage associated with it, the living space is only about 233 square feet, with the kitchen and entryway adding a bit more. The rent is $3,110 per month, which also gets you access to the building's fancy amenities, as well as bragging rights from living in a place designed by one of the world's most famous architects.

The Verdesian

There's not much in the way of a description for this Battery Park City studio, which measures 500 square feet and is asking $3,250 per month. But it's bright, and can fit a bed and a couch, so that's something. It's located in the Verdesian, which was designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli and opened a decade ago.

100 11th Ave, #3A

Once upon a time, this studio in Jean Nouvel's shiny West Chelsea building was for sale, with a just-in-the-six-digit-club ask of $950,000. Since then, it's gotten the slightest of revamps, but the particulars remain the same: it has but one sad little window, it measures only 430 square feet, and the kitchen is just as shiny as the building itself. The rental price is $3,600 and includes access to the building's pool and other amenities.

100 East 53rd Street, #14B

This apartment in the Norman Foster-designed tower at 100 East 53rd Street isn't exactly small—it measures more than 1,000 square feet, after all—but it is the smallest studio currently available in the building. The brokerbabble describes it thusly: "Interiors elegantly conceal service functions, balance city views and domestic intimacy, and allocate generous space for art." So, uh, there's that. It has a common space, "sleeping alcove," and large bathroom, all for the ridiculous price of $2.6 million.

Mercedes House

Enrique Norten's TEN Arquitectos designed this modern ziggurat on West 54th Street, which is home to ridiculous amenities (a basketball court! an outdoor pool!) and a bunch of rentals, including this wee studio. Measuring just 420 square feet (nice), the apartment doesn't come with much space, but it has fancy appliances, solar shades, oak floors, and "sunset views," apparently.

Aalto57, #7Q

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is the firm behind this building, which is divided into a rental and condo portion. The smallest unit that's currently available is a 461-square-foot studio with huge windows, a washer-dryer in-unit, and a "unique movable" kitchen island, whatever that means. It's going for $3,650 per month.

Via 57 West, #1711

The hottest architect of the moment is Bjarke Ingels, and if you're the sort of person who cares about that kind of pedigree, you could snag a teeny studio in his "courtscraper" at 625 West 57th Street for $3,291 per month. The apartment isn't large—again, there's no official square footage listed—but it does have a washer-dryer unit, a walk-in closet, and a dishwasher, all amenities that someone may be convinced to give up space for. And of course, there are the building's amenities, including lush, landscaped communal gardens.

300 Ashland, #10J

Enrique Norten's TEN Arquitectos is behind the new rental building rising at 300 Ashland Place, right at the crossroads of Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene. The smallest available apartment measures 431 square feet, but thanks to its large windows and high ceilings, still looks like it's slightly bigger than its actual size. It's renting for $2,630 per month, and the building itself has a full-floor "club level" along with private outdoor spaces.

City Tower Brooklyn

COOKFOX's rental tower within the City Point megaproject in Downtown Brooklyn began welcoming residents earlier this year, and some apartments are still available. One is this itty-bitty studio asking $2,654 per month, which admittedly has a bit of an odd layout (it's wedged into a corner, basically).