Churchill’s Granddaughter, Sculptor Edwina Sandys, Relists One-of-a-Kind Soho Loft for $10M
You know an apartment is exceptional when Philip Johnson once referred to it as “the most beautiful loft in Soho.” Home to sculptor Edwina Sandys, the granddaughter of Sir Winston Churchill, and her husband, architect Richard Kaplan, this one-of-a-kind space at 565 Broadway was also the location for the original season of “The Real World” in 1992 and has since seen the likes of architects Richard Meier and Rafael Vinoly, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Massimo Vignelli and Christine Ebersole pass through its doors for high-society parties hosted by Sandys and Kaplan.
But the real draw here is the simply stunning historic architecture. Originally home to Ball Black & Co., the top 19th century jeweler before Tiffany’s, the five-bedroom duplex boasts a double-height, 17-foot, exposed-brick vault ceiling, stately Corinthian columns, and a Carrara marble floor, which certainly justifies the $10 million price tag.
Edwina Sandys in front of her sculptures in her home
An 1860 article in the New York Times announcing the opening of Ball Black & Co. hailed 565 Broadway: “In elegance of design, thoroughness of construction, and architectural beauty, this building surpasses anything yet erected in this City, and as a structure for commercial purposes, it is doubtful whether it has its equal in the world.”
The key-locked, full-floor loft offers 6,500 square feet of space, plus a 1,500-square-foot mezzanine which is accessible via two separate staircases. Upon exiting one of the two massive freight-sized elevators, guests step into the vestibule, walk through one of three main entrances, and pass an enormous art gallery.
After ogling the impressive collection of art, you’ll find yourself in the 2,500-square-foot formal living/dining/media room, which is the heart and soul of the loft with 12-foot-tall windows and six grand columns.
The home is currently configured with five bedrooms, including a grand master suite, five full baths, two powder rooms, an open kitchen, and a library, but the large, open layout lends itself to creativity.
Sandys and Kaplan originally listed the loft in 2013 for $10.95 million, and after yo-yo-ing up and down for the past two years, have now relisted it for $9.95 million, a decision spurred by the attention paid to the apartment after appearing on the cover of Luxury Listings NYC. The couple purchased the home in 1981 for an unknown amount.
[Listing: 565 Broadway #2 by Gabrielle Frank of Douglas Elliman]
[565 Broadway on CityRealty]
[Via TRD]