‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Loft in Downtown Manhattan Listed for $8.5 Million

A New York City loft that was featured in “The Devil Wears Prada” hit the market last week for $8.95 million.

Fans of the 2006 movie, set in the fashion world, will recognize the apartment as the SoHo home of James Holt, played by Daniel Sunjata. There, during a party, Anne Hathaway’s character, Andy, meets love interest Christian Thompson, played by Simon Baker.

Located on Crosby Street in Downtown Manhattan, the real-life loft is located on the third floor of a nine-unit building. Built in 1900, the building was originally part of a department store before serving as a storage warehouse for several decades. In 1999, it was converted into a condo building, according to the listing with Jacques Foussard, Filipacchi and Jason Schuchman of Brown Harris Stevens. They weren’t available for comment.

The sellers are Sara and Marc Schiller, founders of the Apartment, a design concept store that’s also located on Crosby Street, according to the listing. They bought the loft in 2000, property records show, though Mansion Global couldn’t determine how much they paid.

The Schillers couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

A 120-foot-long brick wall with arches stretches from the entryway to the home’s great room, where there are 13-foot ceilings, Corinthian columns and 10-foot-tall west-facing windows. The space has a fireplace and can accommodate multiple sitting areas as well as a dining table.

Off the great room is a custom-designed kitchen with high-end appliances and butcher block countertops.

The 3,600-square-foot home has two bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms. The primary bedroom features a “one-of-a-kind” walk-in closet with “organic curves [that] were built to climb in order to reach the highest compartments,” according to the listing.

Australia’s housing debate is often dominated by affordability and supply, but a new collaboration between Brickworks and acclaimed architecture firm Kennedy Nolan argues the conversation should also focus on the quality and longevity of the homes being built.

The project, titled Our Next Neighbourhood, examines how suburban housing could evolve in response to shrinking block sizes, rising energy costs, increasing density and changing family structures.

Rather than proposing luxury dream homes, the initiative focuses on what its creators describe as achievable suburban housing models that are more flexible, sustainable, and better suited to modern Australian life.

Brickworks commissioned Kennedy Nolan to investigate what suburban housing might look like if “design, long-term liveability and enduring materials were placed at the centre of the conversation”.

The result is two housing concepts, known as the Street Terrace and Canopy Terrace, which explore higher-density living while maintaining access to green space, natural light and privacy.

The designs incorporate adaptable floorplans that can evolve as family needs change, along with passive design principles intended to reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.

Brett Ward, General Manager of Marketing at Brickworks, said the company wanted to broaden the discussion around housing beyond simply increasing supply.

“Much of the housing conversation today is understandably focused on supply and affordability, but there is an equally important discussion to be had about the quality and longevity of the homes we build,” he said.

“We wanted to explore how thoughtful design, combined with durable, resilient materials, could create homes that not only function well today, but continue to support Australian families and communities long into the future.”

Kennedy Nolan said the project was partly inspired by concerns that contemporary housing often struggles to adapt to changing household structures and environmental pressures.

The architects said innovation in suburban housing was “essential” to address changing family groupings, energy use, urban heat island effects and growing disconnection from place.

According to the design team, the concepts draw on lessons from some of Australia’s most influential housing projects while seeking to create neighbourhoods with stronger links to landscape, community and local identity.

Rachel Nolan, founder of Kennedy Nolan, said the practice saw an opportunity to reimagine suburban housing as something “more connected to our climate, our landscape, our communities and our Australian identity”.

The project comes as policymakers, developers and planners continue searching for ways to deliver more housing without sacrificing liveability, neighbourhood character or long-term sustainability.

‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Loft in Downtown Manhattan Listed for $8.5 Million

The SoHo pad was the used as the site of a party in the 2006 film.

Brickworks has enlisted acclaimed architecture studio Kennedy Nolan to explore how homes could become more adaptable, energy-efficient and connected to community.