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More Than Scenery: 6 Homes with Iconic Views

Luxury Defined sets it sights on six city homes at eye level with the some of the world’s most famous landmarks

A luxurious residence with a beautiful view is more than the background scenery of life. Whether poised atop the Manhattan skyline, or overlooking the Eiffel Tower, a home with a spectacular view engages us with the world’s beauty, yet in privacy and ultimate comfort. Here we showcase six luxurious properties which offer a spectrum of iconic views, from the majesty of Cape Town’s Table Mountain to the awe of the Roman Colosseum. These homes offer more than vistas; they offer perspectives, moving through time and the seasons of our lives.

SoHo and One World Trade Center
89 GREENE STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Perched high above the cobblestone SoHo streets of Spring and Greene with views of One World Trade Center, this rare corner penthouse loft is one of just four residences in a converted cast iron building built in 1886. A windowed entrance hall leads to two en suite bedrooms with folding doors that allow for quintessential loft living or total privacy. A gallery with walls of windows is perfect for displaying works of art, and leads into a kitchen with stainless steel appliances and an open dining area. The grand corner living room has oversized windows facing east and south, which flood the space with sunlight. A sculptural steel staircase with skylights ascends to a 1,575-square-foot roof deck with exceptional views over SoHo and south to downtown Manhattan.

Related: The High-Rise Life: 5 Penthouses with Waterfront Views

The Eiffel Tower
CONTEMPORARY RIGHT BANK APARTMENT
PARIS, FRANCE

This stylish apartment in the City of Lights boasts one of the world’s most sought-after views. Poised on the top floor of an elegant mid-1920s building in the city’s prestigious 16th arrondissement, the residence reveals a panorama of the Eiffel Tower, the river Seine, and the Trocadéro. The 3,175-square-foot home is appointed with chic, contemporary décor and luxurious finishes and fixtures throughout. Grandly scaled reception rooms open to an ivy-clad balcony with a front-row view of the Eiffel Tower. Other highlights include a formal dining room, fully equipped kitchen, private study, five en suite bedrooms, and a staff apartment.

The Colosseum
PALATIAL PENTHOUSE
ROME, ITALY

This rare offering in the Eternal City comes complete with awe-inspiring vistas of the monuments of Imperial Rome: The Arch of Titus, Palatine Hill, the Imperial Forum, and the Colosseum itself. This exceptional penthouse duplex offers 2,900 square feet of lavish living and entertaining areas connected by a beautiful helical staircase. On the first level are two main suites with a sitting room, bedroom, and bathroom; an en suite guest bedroom; and kitchen with pantry. On the upper floor, a welcoming formal room opens to a magnificent, air-conditioned 473-square-foot terrace with an incomparable vista of the Colosseum, the Church of Santa Francesca Romana, and Oppian Hill. The property has been fully renovated yet retains its original Renaissance-era details, comprising decorative ceilings, frescoed walls, and ornate fabric-covered doors.

Table Mountain
MODERNIST HOME IN BISHOPSCOURT
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

This modernist villa in the leafy Cape Town suburb of Bishopscourt offers breathtaking views of Table Mountain. Designed for relaxed living and entertaining, the home has a resort-like ambiance with fluid, light-filled living and entertaining spaces that open to a north-facing pool deck and serene gardens. Three reception areas flow into each other and the open-plan kitchen. The master suite is its own private haven with a sumptuous spa bath and leads to an additional bedroom and a study. This ultimately private home also includes a state-of-the-art security system and a forecourt with parking for multiple vehicles.

CN Tower
LANDMARK CONDOMINIUM
TORONTO, CANADA

This luxurious condominium in Toronto’s coveted Yorkville neighborhood sits atop a luxurious residential building facing Toronto’s CN Tower. Originally designed in the 1960s by modernist master Philip Johnson, this landmark residence has been expertly renovated and restored in recent years and offers 10,200 interior square feet and 5,000 square feet of terraces across two levels. A two-story foyer opens to a grand living room and separate dining area, and leads to a gourmet kitchen, family room, library, and gym. The second floor houses the master suite with sitting room, two en suite bathrooms, and dual walk-in closets. The building amenities include concierge services and four parking spaces.

Related: Views from the Top of the World

Sugarloaf Mountain & Christ the Redeemer
CONTEMPORARY TRIPLEX
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Unfettered views of the Atlantic Ocean, Sugarloaf Mountain, and Mount Corcovado’s Christ the Redeemer are among the impressive features of this 7,180-square-foot contemporary penthouse in the tranquil Rio neighborhood of Urca. An entrance hall, living room, dining room, two kitchens, and a garden terrace grace the main level. The lower level houses three en suite bedrooms with sea and mountain views and staff quarters. The third floor features one en suite with a hot tub overlooking Sugarloaf Mountain, and a fabulous pool terrace. Elevator access to the building lobby and three parking spaces complete this home for the ultimate Rio lifestyle.