how would you even purchase a rooftop to build a home?? those homes are really interesting/ i love them

It reminds me of Richard Gere's apartment in Autumn in New York.

The 1st photo is West 78th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.

I believe it's 240 West 78th Street.

Fun post! I look down on a brownstone that has a two story roof deck WITH sunroom! So jealous!

In old Disney cartoons, Goofy had a pretty sweet rooftop home.
Goofy Gymnastics

I'm not an arc. expert, but it seems to me that the first one really is a riff on the dutch colonial style, which is sort of awesome considering NYC's history.

I see the 3rd on at 13th Street and 3rd avenue all the time and always a) want to know what it looks like inside, b) covet it... no matter what it looks like inside.

I always wonder why there aren't more of these considering all the rooftop real estate available. Of course, I would like all the rooftops to have grass on them too!

My boyfriend used to live in a corrugated tin shed on the roof connected to the apartment below by a spiral staircase. It was a cheap gut reno'd two bedroom apartment (his shed was the second bedroom). It was sort of cool, (roof access, nice view) but it was a pain to keep warm in the winter and even harder to keep cool in the summer. Not a very efficient way to build a house, though I'm sure a whole house rather than just a room would work better.

I love these--the ones that are more traditionally "house" shaped are like something out of a fairytale.

My school housing in Manhattan was a the Vanderbilt YMCA on 47th b/w 2nd and 3rd. I saw one of these on the top of that building. Completely empty, never used. I should of broke in and used it during my stay.

Air rights! It's a zoning term that allows development on top of other buildings.

Er, zoning concept.

Kudos to the nod to Scout scoutingnewyork!

The 13th street house is for sale: http://www.prudentialelliman.com/Listings.aspx?ListingID=1192281

In addition, one of these homes is owned by one of the Coen brothers. Joel, I think.

I'm so glad you featured these! I used to live on 1st Avenue in the East Village and saw those ones nearby on 1st and 13th Streets all the time. Pointed them out to visitors constantly and was always curious. Any way to request house tours??

When we stayed at the Inn on the Avenue, our room looked right over that first one... I think that I have seen it in a magazine since -- perhaps French Elle Decor... don't remember the details though.

Oooh the third one is having an open house tomorrow, if only I didn't live cross-country, I'd so be there!

I love #3! It would be amazing to have such a traditional-looking house, but way up in the air - kind of like the movie "Up".

Roof load? Especially when it rains or snows? Wouldn't they have to reinforce the roof? It seems like there would be a lot of expense, inconvenience, and liability issues.

I think we do not see more of these because roofs usually contains components for the building as a whole to work - water tower, massive hvac units, and something for the elevators.

There is also the issue of zoning law. Developers often build the actual building as high as they can. And some of the existing shorter buildings sell their air rights to lots next door (so the buildings next door can be built higher) and nothing can be built on top of the shorter buildings as a result.

I have always wondered about that upper west side home, please get a house tour!

does anyone have 1.2 mil i could borrow for the 13th and 3rd one?????

@girlhattan - Sadly, it is the apartment NEXT to the unit with the roof-house that is for sale.