In 2008, Leonardo DiCaprio added a Manhattan apartment to his property portfolio, but the building he chose stood apart from many luxury residences in New York. Located in Battery Park City, Riverhouse was designed around environmentally conscious features, including solar panels, filtered air and a water-treatment system. For an actor who had already become closely associated with environmental causes, the address was a natural fit.At the time, CBS News reported that DiCaprio had purchased an apartment in the 264-unit Riverhouse development, which overlooks the Hudson River and a nearby park. The building was promoted for its focus on reducing its environmental impact while offering the amenities expected from a high-end condominium.
A home inside one of Manhattan’s early green residential buildings
Riverhouse was completed in 2008 and received LEED Gold certification, according to the Battery Park City Authority. The project was developed by the Sheldrake Organisation, with architecture by Polshek Partnership in collaboration with Ismael Leyva Architects and design work by David Rockwell.Its environmental features were part of the building’s design from the beginning. CBS News reported that Riverhouse had low-emission paints, a 24-hour fresh filtered-air system, a water-treatment facility and solar panels that could rotate to follow the sun.The building’s approach went beyond simply putting solar panels on the roof. A case study from the Urban Green Council also documents features such as tracking photovoltaic panels, blackwater and rainwater treatment systems, triple-glazed curtain-wall windows and a combined heat-and-power system.
How much did Leonardo DiCaprio pay for the apartment?
The amount was not disclosed by DiCaprio’s representative when the purchase was first reported in April 2008. CBS News confirmed the acquisition but did not publish a purchase price at the time.CityRealty later reported that DiCaprio paid $3.67 million for his first Riverhouse apartment. The actor eventually expanded his presence in the building by purchasing the neighbouring unit in 2014 for $8 million.That second purchase gave him an even larger footprint in the Battery Park City development. CityRealty reported that the neighbouring apartment measured about 2,327 square feet and included approximately 1,035 square feet of outdoor space.
The building was designed around cleaner indoor spaces
One of Riverhouse’s unusual selling points was its approach to indoor air quality. Rather than relying on ordinary ventilation alone, the building incorporated a filtration system designed to provide residents with fresh, filtered air. CityRealty also reported that the building used water filters, humidity control and low-pollution materials as part of its environmentally focused design.The emphasis on air and water was paired with materials selected with sustainability in mind. The Urban Green Council’s case study notes the project’s attention to indoor environmental quality and water treatment, showing that these systems were integrated into the development rather than added simply as luxury extras.
Solar panels were part of the building’s identity
The solar technology was another feature that distinguished Riverhouse when it opened. Reports described the building’s solar panels as rotating panels, while the Urban Green Council identified them as tracking photovoltaic panels. Their ability to follow the sun was part of Riverhouse’s broader effort to incorporate renewable energy into a high-rise residential project.The building’s green credentials were therefore tied to several systems working together: renewable energy, water treatment, air filtration and materials chosen with environmental considerations in mind.
A luxury building with plenty beyond its green features
Sustainability did not mean Riverhouse lacked the amenities associated with Manhattan luxury living.The development included a 50-foot lap pool, fitness facilities, a landscaped terrace, media café and dog spa, according to the report. The building also had spaces such as a yoga studio and billiards room.Its waterfront location added another attraction. Riverhouse sits at 2 River Terrace in Battery Park City, overlooking the Hudson River and Rockefeller Park. The Battery Park City Authority lists the building as part of the neighbourhood’s North Neighbourhood and confirms its 2008 completion and LEED Gold certification.
Leonardo DiCaprio later bought the apartment next door
Six years after his first purchase, DiCaprio returned to Riverhouse. In 2014, he acquired the neighbouring apartment for $8 million, according to CityRealty. The purchase effectively expanded his space within the same environmentally focused development rather than moving to another Manhattan building.The choice also fits a pattern in DiCaprio’s real-estate portfolio. Architectural Digest has noted his interest in environmentally conscious properties, including his Battery Park City apartments and his plans for the sustainable Blackadore Caye project in Belize.What made the Riverhouse purchase notable was not simply the celebrity attached to it. In 2008, DiCaprio chose a residence in a building where renewable energy, air filtration and water treatment were built into the development itself. More than a luxury Manhattan address, Riverhouse offered an early example of how sustainability could be incorporated into high-end urban living.
