The New Zealand government has reportedly snagged an $8 million apartment on the 18th floor of the Zeckendorf Development at 50 United Nations Plaza in Turtle Bay for its top diplomat, enraging many kiwis who deem the purchase unduly spending.
According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson, the spread won’t be purely residential—it’ll double as a working space. “The higher ongoing maintenance costs and the distance from the UN building meant the older residence was determined as no longer fit for purpose,” he reasoned. Indeed, the sale of the MFTA’s old NYC base will likely offset most of the cost of the new residence. “New York property costs are high and growing, and it was determined that the purchase of a new property represented better long-term value to the taxpayer than leasing a property.”
The 3,000-square-foot home accommodates three bedrooms, three half-baths, a 50-foot long dining room, and grand foyer. Designed by English architect Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the building also provides a private motor court and garden entry.
The hotel-interior has a sleek finish furnished with marble dining tops, ceiling curtains, and minimal design. The pad’s ample windows offer considerable views of East Midtown Manhattan.
Details courtesy of The Brisbane Times
