A 4,200-square-foot minimalist masterpiece in one of the original premier downtown addresses, 158 Mercer Street, 7M is a high-floor, light-filled three-bedroom loft designed by Deborah Berke. The loft is rare in many senses. It includes 16 floor-to-ceiling windows with four full exposures; the western views careen over SoHo and toward the Hudson River. The ceilings are just shy of 11'. Every detail is simplified, with only six materials used throughout: walnut, oak, white colored glass, plaster, stainless steel, and Manhattan schist, which is a dark, garnet-flecked stone. Each fixture is identical and standardized. Parallel lines and repetition suffuse the home with light, air, and order; even the grain of the ebonized oak floor flows in straight lines. Glass and scrims conduct light deep into the interior of the loft, creating one of the few true lofts that is bright throughout. The principal bedroom is separated from the public spaces by a white glass wall, allowing light but assuring full privacy. Each bed is custom-built for the space, as are the closets. In the bathrooms, the tub and sinks are custom fabricated from solid blocks of black schist.

A harbinger of SoHo's luxury loft boom, The New Museum Building at 158 Mercer Street is a turn-of-the-century cast iron building that was converted to lofts in 1996. A full-service condominium, the building offers a 24-hour doorman, a common roof deck, and two entrances for discreet entry and egress.