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Private Views: A High-Rise Panorama of Manhattan
All of us want to see Manhattan from above, but very few can do it from their own living room. Private Views is here to satisfy our incessant curiosity about a hidden elite world that we can only observe from outside, or occasionally, from an overpriced viewing point crowded with tourists.
While posing as an apartment-hunting Hungarian billionaire, Andi Schmied accessed and documented Manhattan’s most exclusive high-rise properties. For the duration of the project, she inhabited a fictional persona: Gabriella, a mother of one whose husband is an antique dealer. Dressing as Gabriella and acting as Gabriella, she prepared for the family’s upcoming move to Manhattan.
Complemented by essays, and fragments of the real estate conversations, the book guides its readers through the sunset from the Trump Tower and dawn over Central Park from the private ballroom of the tallest residential tower on the planet, showcasing samples of the world’s most luxurious materials, such as the Calacatta Tucci marble used in bathrooms overlooking the Empire State Building.
Essays: Sara Emilia Bernat, f-architecture, Irena Lehkoživová, Ava Lynam, Peter Noever, Jack Self, Michael Sorkin, Samuel Stein, Barbora Špičáková, Anthony Vidler, Sharon Zukin.
Editors: Irena Lehkoživová, Barbora Špičáková.
Hardback, Cloth, Perfect binding, Silver Embossed
Dimensions, weight: 31,5 x 23,5 cm, 1,4kg
228 pages, 140 color and 25 b/w illustrations
While posing as an apartment-hunting Hungarian billionaire, Andi Schmied accessed and documented Manhattan’s most exclusive high-rise properties. For the duration of the project, she inhabited a fictional persona: Gabriella, a mother of one whose husband is an antique dealer. Dressing as Gabriella and acting as Gabriella, she prepared for the family’s upcoming move to Manhattan.
Complemented by essays, and fragments of the real estate conversations, the book guides its readers through the sunset from the Trump Tower and dawn over Central Park from the private ballroom of the tallest residential tower on the planet, showcasing samples of the world’s most luxurious materials, such as the Calacatta Tucci marble used in bathrooms overlooking the Empire State Building.
Essays: Sara Emilia Bernat, f-architecture, Irena Lehkoživová, Ava Lynam, Peter Noever, Jack Self, Michael Sorkin, Samuel Stein, Barbora Špičáková, Anthony Vidler, Sharon Zukin.
Editors: Irena Lehkoživová, Barbora Špičáková.
Hardback, Cloth, Perfect binding, Silver Embossed
Dimensions, weight: 31,5 x 23,5 cm, 1,4kg
228 pages, 140 color and 25 b/w illustrations
228 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2021
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418 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 21, 2021
I read an interview about this in the German Süddeutsche Zeitung, well before the book was out and I immediately preordered, because the subject really grabbed my attention.
But hey, it is so much more! I am a big art lover, and first of all, this book looks spectacular. The design itself would worth a separate review with its tactile nature, little surprises, small papers on top of big papers, and so on. This look is also very consistent with the content, which is very well structured and written. At parts, I found myself laughing out loud while reading it, even when the book is dealing with a very sad reality. I could write so much more about it but to sum it up: I am a huge fan of this super cool and brave book!
But hey, it is so much more! I am a big art lover, and first of all, this book looks spectacular. The design itself would worth a separate review with its tactile nature, little surprises, small papers on top of big papers, and so on. This look is also very consistent with the content, which is very well structured and written. At parts, I found myself laughing out loud while reading it, even when the book is dealing with a very sad reality. I could write so much more about it but to sum it up: I am a huge fan of this super cool and brave book!
February 15, 2021
This book is absolutely amazing! It is not only gorgeous in its design, but it is so provocative, so revealing, so funny, with a very strong criticism toward the inequality our system produces.
I am so happy I have purchased it and will recommend to everyone.
I am so happy I have purchased it and will recommend to everyone.
February 13, 2022
I love the project and the book.
Andi (aka. Gabriella) pretended to be a wealthy wife to gain access and document the inner workings of Manhattan luxury skyscrapers (such as the ones at Billionaires' Row). She photographed the views in each of them and recorded the sales pitches of the real estate agents. So the resulting book is a greatly entertaining, smart, and stunningly beautiful book.
Anyone interested in inequality, architecture, cities, New York, or real estate will love it.
Andi (aka. Gabriella) pretended to be a wealthy wife to gain access and document the inner workings of Manhattan luxury skyscrapers (such as the ones at Billionaires' Row). She photographed the views in each of them and recorded the sales pitches of the real estate agents. So the resulting book is a greatly entertaining, smart, and stunningly beautiful book.
Anyone interested in inequality, architecture, cities, New York, or real estate will love it.
April 26, 2022
I saw a wonderful TED talk by Andi Schmied, after which I bought the book.
And it is beyond all the expectations I had.
The premise of the book is that the artist pretended to be a wealthy Hungarian buyer to tour New York's prime properties and photograph their views.
First of all, the book is beautiful (it immediately became my coffee table book that all my guests are admiring). Second of all, it is entertaining and funny. BUT most importantly it is very smart. The main subject is the ultra-luxury skyscrapers that filled Manhattan's skyline in the last decade. As I have learned from the book, most of these properties are not even lived in and are mere tools for investment for their uber-wealthy buyers. The book in its light manner, reveals a sad and heavy reality. The first half of the book is a collection of 25 buildings the artist visited, and her photographs of the views, overlapped with the conversations she had in each apartment with the estate agents. Reading the conversations is hilarious and outrageous at the very same time. The last chapter of the book is a collection of creative and critical essays by renowned sociologists, architects, and artists.
I am an architect in Berlin, and the processes that Private Views is about, are present all over the world, to some extent. New York is the prime example, so it makes sense to start observing it there.
I would give this book more than 5 stars if it was possible!
The premise of the book is that the artist pretended to be a wealthy Hungarian buyer to tour New York's prime properties and photograph their views.
First of all, the book is beautiful (it immediately became my coffee table book that all my guests are admiring). Second of all, it is entertaining and funny. BUT most importantly it is very smart. The main subject is the ultra-luxury skyscrapers that filled Manhattan's skyline in the last decade. As I have learned from the book, most of these properties are not even lived in and are mere tools for investment for their uber-wealthy buyers. The book in its light manner, reveals a sad and heavy reality. The first half of the book is a collection of 25 buildings the artist visited, and her photographs of the views, overlapped with the conversations she had in each apartment with the estate agents. Reading the conversations is hilarious and outrageous at the very same time. The last chapter of the book is a collection of creative and critical essays by renowned sociologists, architects, and artists.
I am an architect in Berlin, and the processes that Private Views is about, are present all over the world, to some extent. New York is the prime example, so it makes sense to start observing it there.
I would give this book more than 5 stars if it was possible!
May 17, 2022
This book is an absolute delight! Full of surprises, fun, and a lot of information.
Recommended to any architect and planner, everyone who wants to understand wealth inequality, or just lovers of art.
Recommended to any architect and planner, everyone who wants to understand wealth inequality, or just lovers of art.
March 15, 2021
This is a very very special book. Or rather; a piece of art. I can not stop touching it, looking at it, reading it.
January 15, 2022
A wonderful-wonderful book to all who are interested in New York, in architecture, in the housing crisis, or in wealth and its effects on cities. All these are told through shorter and longer essays, and maybe my favorite chapter of the book is the one called "Buildings", which shows the views of the luxury apartments, juxtaposed with the conversations in each apartment between Gabriella, the fake billionaire, and the real estate agents.
Besides being informative, this book is a joy to read. It has a wonderful graphic design, it is album-sized, so it is also now a precious addition to my art library.
Besides being informative, this book is a joy to read. It has a wonderful graphic design, it is album-sized, so it is also now a precious addition to my art library.
October 16, 2021
The Hungarian artist (author) pretended to be a millionaire and showed in her book views of the most luxurious apartments in New York. Unique photographs alternated with short interesting facts and unusual stories from the environment of extremely rich people.
+Who do I think will appreciate the book+
Enthusiasts of architecture and modern art.
-The biggest shortcomings-
Images were sometimes too blurry.
+Who do I think will appreciate the book+
Enthusiasts of architecture and modern art.
-The biggest shortcomings-
Images were sometimes too blurry.
May 17, 2024
this book is almost dystopian in its importance.
November 7, 2025
Such an interesting project, raising great questions regarding the current housing crisis in many big cities.
Very happy I was able to find this in my local library.
Very happy I was able to find this in my local library.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews