After a year of atmospheric chaos—floods, wildfires, heat domes—the climate is no longer a background issue in the world of luxury real estate. Today’s deep-pocketed buyers increasingly expect their homes to reflect not only their taste but also their values—and forward-thinking developers are responding in kind.
Manhattan’s One Wall Street (also known as the Irving Trust Company Building and the Bank of New York Building) demonstrates this ethos by meticulously reimagining the landmark Art Deco tower in the Financial District instead of razing it. Instead of scrapping the past, developers leaned into adaptive reuse: installing high-performance glazing, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and residential layouts that prioritize light, flow, and access to private outdoor space. Think wraparound terraces and garden nooks, coveted luxuries rarely afforded in lower Manhattan.
This spring, One Wall’s residents celebrated Earth Day not at a swanky cocktail soirée but by gardening together on the rooftop terrace. “Sustainability today means more than energy efficiency,” says Anna Zarro, the building’s president of sales. “It’s a holistic approach: wellness, longevity, and environmental responsibility.”
Manhattan’s not known for its connection to nature, but that’s exactly the problem projects like Flatiron House are trying to solve. A collaboration between Anbau and COOKFOX Architects, the development embraces biophilic design—the principle that humans thrive when they’re connected to the natural world. Here, that translates into limestone-and-bronze facades, interiors trimmed in walnut and bronze, and, most distinctively, individual gardens integrated into deep loggias.
Designed as urban sanctuaries, many units have their own self-irrigated plantings, bringing both greenery and gastronomy directly to your high-rise residence. “We imagined the homes as a serene refuge from the city,” says architect Rick Cook.
The trend isn’t limited to new builds. In fact, some of the most environmentally sensitive projects are retrofits, repurposing office buildings or commercial shells into high-end housing. The benefits go beyond curb appeal: less waste, lower emissions, and the preservation of neighborhood character. It’s an ethos gaining traction across the country.
At 210 South 12th Street in Philadelphia, sustainability takes on a tech-forward form. Developed by Midwood, the new residential tower in Center City quietly boasts one of the first fully automated, EV-compatible garages in the U.S. Forget circling for parking or idling in tight corners—residents drive into a bay, and the system takes over. “We saw the growth in electric vehicles and designed the building to match that demand,” says Richard Young, Midwood’s senior VP.
The building also features VRF HVAC systems, occupancy-based lighting, natural ventilation, and smart-home tech for energy tracking. Another of the building’s eco-bonuses is the Cadillac Lyriq car-share fleet that offers a low-emissions alternative to car ownership altogether.
Elsewhere, Tankhouse and the architecture firm SO–IL are reshaping Brooklyn’s residential landscape with a slew of bold, eco-conscious developments that prioritize bold design and sustainability. Of note is 144 Vanderbilt in Fort Greene. The striking, pale-pink concrete structure set to open in 2025 features 26 unique residences, each with private outdoor space, open-air staircases, and breezeways for natural ventilation. It’s also the first building in the U.S. to use a QAHV electric hot water system powered by CO₂ as a natural refrigerant.
If One Wall and Flatiron House are about adapting urban life to nature, the W Residences in Costa Rica were designed to be integrated within it. Situated on the 2,300-acre beachfront enclave of Reserva Conchal, the project is built around sustainability from the ground up. There’s a private desalination plant, reforestation efforts, solar power, composting, and even an apiary housing two-and-a-half million bees. “Sustainability isn’t a trend,” says Fabián Fernández, business manager at Reserva Conchal. “It’s the new standard for responsible luxury.”
The property also protects nearly 100 acres of dry tropical forest and has installed over 1,400 solar panels. Native landscaping blends seamlessly with the architecture, further minimizing environmental impact.
This convergence of beauty, performance, and responsibility is inspiring other international projects, including architect Stefano Boeri’s famed Vertical Forests, a series of residential towers wrapped in living greenery. Since debuting in Milan in 2014—with 800 trees and 20,000 plants rising alongside glass and steel—Boeri has brought the concept to cities around the world. North of the border, Toronto’s 138 Yorkville is following suit. When completed in 2028, the Brian Brisbin–designed tower will offer 67 private residences, including a two-story super penthouse with over 6,000 square feet of outdoor space and its own rooftop infinity pool—all set amid more than 120 terrace-planted trees. The aim? A vertical forest with a city skyline view.
Whether it’s a condo with a pollinator garden or a penthouse that breathes, the future of high-end real estate is increasingly rooted in sustainability.
