When architecture becomes art and light transforms living spaces, you get properties like Lantern House. These aren’t just homes, they’re masterpieces that have redefined what it means to live inside historic architectural innovation.
From Manhattan’s High Line to Vancouver’s tree-lined streets, lantern house interiors are capturing attention from design enthusiasts and luxury homebuyers alike. Here’s an exclusive behind-the-listing look at what makes these properties extraordinary.
The Manhattan Icon: Heatherwick Studio’s Architectural Marvel
At 515 West 18th Street in Chelsea, Heatherwick Studio’s Lantern House stands as one of New York’s most distinctive residential developments. Completed in 2021, this 22-storey complex redefined modern luxury living.
Heatherwick Studio’s Lantern House
The building’s signature feature? Three-dimensional bay windows that jut dramatically from the facade, creating what appears to be stacked lanterns illuminating the cityscape.
Key architectural highlights include:
- 181 residences ranging from one to four bedrooms
- Hand-laid grey brickwork inspired by Chelsea’s warehouse heritage
- Double-height bay windows with panoramic city and Hudson River views
- Glass lobby pavilion connecting two towers beneath the High Line
The interiors, designed by March & White Design, showcase a refined blend of heritage materials and contemporary comfort. Oak flooring, Calacatta marble countertops, and custom bronze fixtures create spaces that feel both timeless and distinctly modern.
Each residence features dramatic ceiling heights, window seats built into the iconic bay windows, and integrated Gaggenau appliances in kitchens designed for both function and visual impact.
Current listing prices:
- One-bedroom units: Starting at $1.95 million
- Two-bedroom units: From $3.475 million
- Three-bedroom units: From $5.895 million
- Four-bedroom penthouses: From $10.95 million
Vancouver’s Sanctuary: Leckie Studio’s Award-Winning Design
While New York’s Lantern House captures urban glamour, Vancouver’s Lantern House by Leckie Studio takes an entirely different approach. Named Project of the Year by Canadian Interiors in 2025, this residence exemplifies what architecture critic Chen Cohen calls “quiet elegance and artful manipulation of light.”
Built around a central void in a nine-square grid layout, the house creates an atmosphere of contemplative calm despite its urban setting.
The 1,355-square-foot home features board-formed concrete walls, rough stucco exteriors, and untreated cedar screens that age gracefully over time. Inside, polished concrete floors meet limewashed walls and warm oak surfaces, all animated by natural light filtering through cedar screens and skylights.
Notable design elements:
- Central light well drawing daylight deep into the home’s core
- Monastic tub room lit only from above
- Sandstone kitchen island as focal point
- Hidden hi-fi niche for audio equipment
- Bedroom access to roof deck
Unlike traditional historic homes for sale, this property embraces passive design strategies and material authenticity over historical pastiche. The result is a home that feels both ancient and utterly contemporary.
What Sets Lantern House Interiors Apart
Whether in Manhattan or Vancouver, lantern house designs share common principles that elevate them beyond conventional luxury properties:
Light as primary material. These homes don’t just have windows—they’re designed around how light moves through space throughout the day. The dramatic bay windows and strategic skylights create constantly shifting atmospheres.
Material honesty. No fake finishes or applied ornament. Every surface—from hand-laid brick to board-formed concrete—celebrates authentic materials that improve with age.
Spatial innovation. Traditional rooms give way to flowing, interconnected spaces that adapt to modern living patterns.
The heritage of preservation matters, as seen in recent incidents like the devastating Manchester fire that destroyed the historic Hotspur Press, reminding us why architectural innovation and careful stewardship both matter.
The Market for Architectural Masterpieces
Properties like Lantern House occupy a unique market position. They’re not merely homes, they’re design statements that appeal to buyers seeking something beyond conventional luxury.
According to real estate data, architecturally significant properties command premium valuations, often appreciating faster than comparable conventional homes. The Heatherwick-designed units have seen strong demand despite premium pricing, with several penthouses recently listing at over $15 million.
For buyers interested in exploring inside historic homes with contemporary sensibilities, lantern-style architecture offers the best of both worlds: spaces that honour craftsmanship traditions while embracing modern living.
Living in a Lantern House
Beyond architectural accolades, what’s daily life actually like in these properties?
Residents in NYC’s Lantern House enjoy extensive amenities: a 75-foot saltwater pool, infrared saunas, cold plunge pools, Equinox-managed fitness facilities, and even an on-site Italian restaurant. The building’s location beside the High Line provides instant access to one of Manhattan’s most beloved public spaces.
Vancouver’s more intimate Lantern House offers different pleasures: morning light filtering through cedar screens, the play of shadows across concrete walls, and the sense of urban refuge without isolation from the neighbourhood.
Both properties demonstrate that historic homes for sale in 2025 aren’t necessarily old, they’re homes built with permanence and craft in mind, designed to become tomorrow’s architectural heritage.
Dramatic bay windows create light-filled living spaces with panoramic city views
The Future of Lantern Architecture
As cities grow denser and natural light becomes more precious, the lantern house concept continues to evolve. Architects are exploring how stacked bay windows, central light wells, and strategic screening can create luminous interiors even on challenging urban sites.
For design enthusiasts and prospective buyers, lantern house interiors represent architecture at its most thoughtful, where every detail serves both aesthetic and experiential purposes.
Whether you’re touring Manhattan penthouses or exploring Vancouver sanctuaries, stepping inside a true lantern house reveals what happens when light, material, and space combine with architectural vision.
