A New York penthouse frames the stakes in Spike Lee’s latest with Denzel Washington
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The most expensive character in Highest 2 Lowest may not be Denzel Washington or even the director’s vision. It is the penthouse where the story begins. Perched atop the 32nd floor of the Olympia Dumbo building in Brooklyn, the $17.5 million apartment sets the tone for Spike Lee’s latest drama before a single line of dialogue is spoken.
Denzel Washington plays David King, a hip-hop mogul whose wealth and position are embodied not just in his clothing or language, but in the property he occupies. The opening scene of the film features Washington stepping onto the penthouse’s private terrace. Behind him, a wall of glass frames panoramic views of Manhattan. The space is real, not a set. It spans nearly 5,000 square feet, stretches across the entire top floor, and was once listed for $19.5 million.
Designed for status and stillness
The Olympia Dumbo penthouse contains five bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms. Three of the bedrooms come with en-suite layouts. A private elevator opens directly into the residence, and a 552-square-foot terrace runs along its edge. Floor-to-ceiling windows surround the apartment, offering unobstructed views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the East River and Lower Manhattan.
Inside, the design remains minimal but expansive. The flooring, fixtures and finishes reflect a level of curated restraint. There is no overstatement. The wealth is in the space itself.
Carl A. Ekroth, associate broker on The Jessica Peters Team at Douglas Elliman, described the view as unmatched. Speaking to CNBC, he noted the penthouse as a piece of art in its own right. For Ekroth, the scale of the apartment is impressive, but its serenity is what sets it apart. Despite being in the tallest residential building in Dumbo, Olympia has only 76 apartments. This makes the building feel quieter, more exclusive and, in his words, more boutique than its height would suggest.
Amenities that frame the experience
Beyond the walls of the penthouse, the building offers three floors of amenities. These include a spin studio, bowling alley, game lounge, locker rooms, a playroom and a full-size tennis court with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. Residents also have access to an outdoor pool, a hot tub, and BBQ areas. Private events can be hosted using these amenities, which can be rented for up to four hours at a time.
This atmosphere of luxury and control mirrors the tension inside Lee’s film. King is a man who has access to everything, but whose decisions grow more difficult as the story unfolds. The contrast between what the apartment provides and what it cannot resolve becomes a central dynamic. Lee does not exaggerate this tension. He lets the silence of the rooms and the edges of the floorplan carry the pressure.
The penthouse, while quiet, never feels empty. Its scale forces characters to speak carefully. Its openness makes secrets hard to hold. As the film progresses, the apartment begins to resemble a decision-making chamber as much as a home.
Architecture as plot
Lee has long treated space as character, but in Highest 2 Lowest, architecture takes center stage. The penthouse is where nearly every major conversation happens. It is where King confronts family, advisers and police. It is where he walks between windows, waiting for answers that arrive slowly. Every inch of the apartment is designed to contain both comfort and consequence.
The space also reinforces the film’s central conflict. King must choose whether to pay a ransom that could save a life but destroy his business. That choice happens in a home designed to prevent compromise. The apartment’s cleanliness, its privacy and its distance from the street below all speak to a man who has learned to manage perception.