“The higher you get the lonelier the world seems.”
Seventeen-year-old Demid Lebedev, better known by his Instagram username Demidism, recently climbed to the top of 432 Park Avenue, capturing unprecedented views from what will be New York City’s tallest residential building. “I went to heaven and back,” writes Lebedev in one of the photo’s captions. Surrounded in fog, Lebedev captures views from distinct levels of the building, which is currently in its final stage of construction. 432 Park Avenue will top out at 1,398 feet, surpassing One57 and earning the crown as the city’s tallest residential building when it opens in 2015.
Yet following his climb, Lebedev was arrested and charged with criminal trespass and reckless endangerment, local press reported.
We caught up with Lebedev to learn what it's like to climb to the top of the city's tallest buildings and how the city changes as it extends upward. Read what Lebedev had to say and enjoy his stunning photos after the break.
ArchDaily: Why did you start climbing?
The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge was the first bridge I ever climbed. I did it because I knew that other people of my age were doing the same thing and taking incredible photos while they were at it. The main reason I started all this was because I met a fellow photographer by the name of Humza Deas (or @humzadeas on Instagram) who was even younger than me. He was the reason I started climbing bridges and then I took it a step further from there.
ArchDaily: What buildings (or bridges) are on your bucket-list?
The Woolworth building, and the Brooklyn Bridge, which I'm both planning to access legally at some point.
ArchDaily: From the top what has caught your attention the most about the city?
The higher you get the lonelier the world seems.
ArchDaily: What’s your favorite vantage point in the city?
Definitely 432 Park Ave.
ArchDaily: Why do you refer to yourself as an Urban Historian?
Because I like to do my research before I go somewhere, and find out well... the history of the place that I'm going to. There's just something magical about really knowing where you are.
Follow Demid Lebedev on Instagram @demidism and check out more of his photos here.
h/t Gizmodo
