News: Dutch firm MVRDV has become the latest architect to design a penthouse apartment featuring a car elevator, offering residents the ultimate luxury: the ability to drive straight into their home.

The proposal unveiled is for the 12th and 13th floors of an exclusive apartment block in New York's Chelsea district – a building that until recently was the home of fashion designer L'Wren Scott.

"The car elevator is a service this tower offers," MVRDV's Jan Knikker told Dezeen. "It is convenient for celebrities who want total privacy until entering their apartment – no chance for paparazzi."

The personal elevator will take less than a minute to carry the car up to its penthouse parking garage, which will be internally lined with high-gloss stainless steel to create a mirrored finish.

The 334-square-metre residence, entitled PH1, will also contain what developer Young Woo & Associates refers to as a "sky vault". Built around a staircase, this will be a hidden safe and exhibition space where residents can store their "most prized possessions" beneath a glass ceiling.

Other features of the apartment will include a "disappearing kitchen", six-metre-high ceilings and a trio of en suite bedrooms, as well as panoramic views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline.

The apartment will occupy the 12th and 13th levels of the 200 11th Avenue building, which was completed by New York architect Annabelle Selldorf in 2010.

Read on for more information from MVDRV:

MVRDV present New York Penthouse with car elevator and 'sky vault'

MVRDV has been commissioned by Young Woo & Associates to redesign PH1, a 3598 square foot penthouse in an exclusive building in New York's West Chelsea district. The 3 bedroom duplex features 80 feet frontage over the Hudson River, 668 square feet exterior space and a 'sky vault', transforming the stairs into a gallery and safe. The penthouse on the 12th and 13th floors can be reached by car through a personal elevator which carries the car to the apartment. It is now up for sale via Nestseekers.com

PH1, by Young Woo & Associates in collaboration with MVRDV, is now on the market for the first time since its sponsorship. Completely redesigned, this 3,598 square foot 3 bedroom, 3 and a half bathroom duplex retains 80 feet of frontage over the Hudson River, with protected panoramic views from the 12th and 13th floors. Offering 22 foot ceiling heights and sheathed in windows – with 668 square feet of exterior space spread over two loggias and access to the en suite "sky garage".

By creating the sky Garage, Young Woo transformed the notion of urban living and sets a new precedent for architectural development. Now his firm brings in the MVRDV design team to expand on his vision of the sky garage, once more addressing the ever-present issue of space, flow and movement. PH1 is now home to Woo's newest, most exclusive creation: the sky vault. Already connected via elevator, the lower and upper level of PH1 are now joined by the sky vault – a disappearing, glass-encased staircase and vertical chamber. Maximising efficiency and creating character, the sky vault is on display as the heart of PH1 and is an exhibition for its residents' most prized possessions. Offering a glass ceiling, Cumaru stairs, extending glass railing and operable hatch for access, the sky vault transforms the stairwell into a safe and a gallery.

Re-imagined, the home's new layout will be dressed in exquisite high-end finishes. Adding to the list of renovations for PH1 is the sky garage, accessed by a personal elevator that carries the car to the parking space adjoining the apartment in less than 60 seconds. Now completely clad in wall-to-ceiling, high-gloss stainless steel, the reflective garage space, with large windows to the east, will highlight the parked vehicle as well as the city views.

Renovated to increase usable square footage, the lower level will consist of a master bedroom with en suite master bathroom and walk-in-closet, a family room/study, and a second bedroom with en suite bathroom. The upper level is home to the enlarged living and dining area, made possible with the increased floor area gained from relocating the stairwell to the "sky vault". The upper level also features a powder room, disappearing kitchen, guest bedroom with en suite guest bathroom, en suite car garage and two large loggia-like terraces with wide city and water views to the north, east, and south.

Annabelle Selldorf's 200 11th Avenue stands at the epicentre of West Chelsea – New York's ever rising "starchitecture district" and home to the Highline Park. Selldorf Architects unveiled the project in 2010 with New York City-based developer Young Woo & Associates and A. Zahner Company.

Appropriately situated among the plethora of New York City's contemporary art galleries, 200 11th Avenue was one of the first projects to capitalise on the residential rezoning of the neighbourhood. Spanning 19 stories and dressed in a sculptural stainless steel facade and cast gunmetal glazed terracotta, 200 11th consists of a 16-storey tower sitting atop a 3-storey plinth. Maintaining the aesthetic integrity of its surrounding buildings whilst imprinting its iconic style on West Chelsea's changing complexion, 200 11th also offers panoramic views of the Hudson River and Manhattan skyline. Home to only 14 unique apartments, residents get to enjoy every amenity luxury has to offer: 24/7 attended lobby, key-lock elevator entry, fully equipped fitness facility overlooking the Hudson, and even A-list neighbours.