"Largely unseen from the street, penthouses are a city's secret spaces. In loft conversions where they are set back from the property line, penthouses can give an architect the opportunity to create an original structure with a totally separate and distinct DNA from the legacy design without offending preservationists. Great views are only one measuring stick while square-footage of outdoor space is another key metric. Invariably, penthouses are realms of privacy and privilege, and after the jump we give you a look at three dramatic new perches hidden away on the island of Manhattan, including a virtual peek at the new home of actress Meryl Streep."
