Leonardo DiCaprio has spent decades talking about the environment. His Manhattan apartment reflects that interest. The actor bought an apartment inside Riverhouse, a 32-story tower in Battery Park City built around solar panels, twice-filtered air, and its own water treatment system, for $3.67 million in 2008, according to CityRealty. Six years later, he came back and bought the unit next door for $8 million. The purchase comes at a time when research has increasingly highlighted the importance of indoor air quality: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's COGfx research series has linked better-ventilated, green-certified buildings to higher cognitive test scores, improved sleep quality, and fewer sick-building symptoms among occupants.
A green tower with famous neighbors
Riverhouse is located at 2 River Terrace and overlooks Rockefeller Park and the Hudson River. The exterior was designed by Polshek Partnership Architects, now Ennead Architects, and the interior and amenities were designed by David Rockwell. Riverhouse has been open since 2008 and has become the first residential building in Battery Park City to receive the LEED Gold certification, a recognition that is awarded by the United States Green Building Council for its energy- and water-saving features, among others. It was among the first buildings to open in Battery Park City after The Solaire, an earlier 2003 building widely credited as one of the first LEED-certified high-rise residential towers in the country. Model and TV host Tyra Banks bought several units there, and actor Cobie Smulders and director Oliver Stone have also called the building home.
What DiCaprio actually bought
The actor paid $3.67 million for his first apartment at Riverhouse in 2008. The environmentally friendly construction of this apartment building is not limited to just the presence of solar panels. Low-emission paint is used on the walls, and there is a 24-hour filtration system for clean air. Besides this, the residents can also enjoy having a 50-foot-long lap pool, yoga room, billiards room and even a dog spa. The building seems to be a natural fit for an actor who drives a hybrid car and has served on the board of the environmental group Global Green USA.
