It seems as though the buyers of Manhattan’s real estate market are leaving flashy, over-designed apartments behind, as many are beginning to seek residences that embody subtle elegance. The Citizen,a 29-unit building located at the nexus of Chelsea and the Flatiron District, is a great example of this shift in taste. The newly constructed building, which sits at 124 West 23^rd Street between 6^th and 7^th avenues and stands 16 stories tall, is a place where environmental sustainability and contemporary design are seamlessly combined. Hitting the market within the last month, the Citizen steers clear of the excesses of other luxury condominiums, providing apartment buyers in Manhattan with a space where less really is more.

While the Citizen’s initial designs incorporated sliding-glass partitions and open floor plans, the developers opted to build a traditional brick façade inspired by the unique architecture of the surrounding neighborhood instead. The choice was an aesthetic one, but it also helped make the building energy efficient, so much so that the Citizen is LEED-certified. Individual units were crafted to be eco-friendly by incorporating filtered air systems to ventilate every apartment. They also utilized heat recovery technology by implementing water-cooled air-conditioning and insulated windows. Other fixtures such as white oak floors, paneled doors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and stylish hardware were all installed with the goal of energy efficeincy in mind. Apartments range in size from studios to full-floor three bedrooms, and many have private outdoor spaces. Luxury amenities are found in spades here as well, as the Citizen offers a 24-hour doorman, fitness room, bike storage, and private storage.