It’s Not So Much A Question, “Where Is The Life?” As It Is A Raison D’Etre: Where Is The Life!

Philippe Starck’s new project on East 23rd Street has a little of everything.

First, the pretense:

Renowned, eccentric and energetic French designer Philippe Starck whirled into luxury real estate marketer Michael Shvo’s breakfast event yesterday to show off his latest city design. Called “Gramercy,” the 21-story glass tower will be erected on East 23rd Street, between First and Second avenues, by next year.

New Yorkers don’t generally associate the bustling street with the stately and chic private Gramercy Park, located between East 20th and 21st streets, but Shvo said the name was chosen “to associate it with the closest attraction.” But, he added, “It’s no question this building will be the new landmark of the neighborhood.”

Then the theoretical deliciousness:

For the tenants, Starck said, the building “will be an island of intelligence, poetry, vision, humor, tenderness, respect, even sophistication and elegance.”

Real estate developers usually don’t care about these concepts, Starck said. They care about making cheap buildings.

“Between the greedy real estate guy and the theory of real estate, where is the life?” he asked. “Where is the respect?”

Which finally becomes our collective desire to submit to architecture:

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or Freud to see what type of family you are,” Starck said. “You choose it yourself. . . . I don’t design your apartment, but I help you to know what you are.”

Show me. I swear I’m not afraid.