In 2016, artist Andi Schmied spent three months in New York as part of an artist residency program. During this time, she became fascinated with the exclusive luxury towers in the city and decided to create a book featuring photographs of the views from these buildings. In order to gain access to these properties, Andi pretended to be a billionaire named Gabriella searching for a second home in the city. Along the way, she met Daniel Rosenstein, a real estate agent who helped her navigate the exclusive market and offered insights on how to gain access to these properties.
This is a fasinating look at New York City’s luxuary apartments in this video by Vice, featuring Andi Schmied. While working on the project, Andi discovered the extravagance and opulence of the lifestyle offered by these luxury towers, and the ways in which they manipulated the city to the disadvantage of others.
As she continued her project, Andi visited 25 different luxury towers in New York, ranging in price from $10 million to $85 million. She was struck by the extravagance of these properties, with some offering lavish amenities such as champagne baths and views of the city from 93 stories above. However, she also felt a sense of outrage at the exclusivity of these buildings and the way they were only accessible to the wealthiest 1% of the population.
Throughout her journey, Andi found that the lifestyle offered by these luxury towers was a major selling point for their residents. People were willing to pay exorbitant prices to live in these buildings not just for the physical space, but for the luxurious experiences and amenities they provided. This included access to private restaurants, spas, and even personal maids to take care of their every need.
In the end, Andi’s project was not just about documenting the views from these luxury towers, but about exposing the absurdity and exclusivity of the lifestyle they offered. Through her experiences as Gabriella, Andi hopes to shed light on the ways in which these buildings manipulate and benefit from the cities they are located in, and the ways in which they are only accessible to a select few.
Despite the opulence and extravagance of these luxury towers, Andi’s project also highlights the stark inequality that exists within cities like New York. These buildings and the lifestyle they offer are only accessible to the wealthiest members of society, while the majority of people in the city struggle to afford basic necessities such as housing and healthcare.
Andi’s project serves as a reminder of the vast economic divide that exists within our society, and the ways in which the wealthy use their wealth to secure exclusive experiences and amenities that are out of reach for most people. It also raises questions about the ethics of such exclusivity and whether it is fair for a select few to have access to such luxurious lifestyles while the majority of people are left struggling to get by.
Overall, Andi’s project offers a thought-provoking look at the world of luxury real estate and the ways in which it can contribute to inequality and exclusivity within our society. It serves as a reminder of the need to address these issues and work towards a more equitable and inclusive world for all.
Please check out the video on Vice: