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Resolution: 4 Architecture

Resolution: 4 Architecture

New York, NY

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Custom Walnut Dining Table Cantilevers with Linear Lighting
Custom Walnut Dining Table Cantilevers with Linear Lighting
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Upper West Side Apartment

Located in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, this renovation combined two apartments to create a tranquil escape from the city for a busy family with two young kids. Spaces feel large and open, and circulation is designed to offer multiple connections between spaces, preserving a loft-like atmosphere. The architectural composition and finishes are inherently beautiful, but also serve as a rich backdrop for the owners’ artwork and furnishings; elements of the owners’ Korean heritage were also incorporated into the design.

The apartment is divided into three zones: communal living spaces, a generous master suite, and a children’s suite. Privacy is afforded through custom, oversized aluminum and glass pocket doors, which allow each zone to be separated from one another, or the entire apartment can be continuously connected, when desired. The children's suite includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a separate play space, making it easy for the adults to entertain while the children play or sleep.

Custom millwork and built-in furniture enhance the organized layout while providing a discreet means of maximizing storage and eliminating clutter. Hallways are lined with full height cabinets, and bedrooms include built-in wardrobes. Window benches run the length of the living room and provide storage. A custom walnut sofa, dining table, and bookshelves are incorporated into the living spaces; kids’ bedrooms are outfitted with built-in desks and bunks; the study doubles as a guest room with a Murphy bed; and the master includes a built-in walnut bed with integral nightstands. In fact, the only elements that were not custom designed and built into the architecture are the sofas and chairs.

During demolition, a number of existing immovable mechanical and plumbing elements were discovered, creating opportunities for the architecture to respond to and embrace these conditions. The custom walnut dining table is built around an existing gas pipe; the vertical post seems to carve a slot for a light cove at the ceiling. In the children’s suite, a black steel-clad hallway angles and bends in a playful configuration to cleverly conceal an existing plumbing riser. Existing structural columns – refinished with a smooth concrete texture – float within large spaces, becoming purposeful elements within a cohesive composition.

The architecture also introduces instances of fun and whimsy: multiple secret doors were included, such as a cabinet that pivots to reveal a connection between the parents’ master suite and the children’s bedroom zone. A black steel-clad door panel nests into the surrounding black steel-clad walls, disguising its function to separate the study.

High-tech features are incorporated into a whole-house integrated control system, which automatically manages predefined settings. Depending on the season, time of day or activity of the occupants, the apartment can be easily transformed through the manipulation of lighting, music, motorized window shades, and temperature control; all of which can also be adjusted remotely through mobile apps on occasions where the family is traveling.

The cumulative effect of design decisions by the architects and clients creates a harmonious symphony of architectural design, epitomizing a modern residence.

 
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Status: Built
Location: New York, NY
Firm Role: Architect

 
Elevator Entry Wall Clad in Stainless and Black Steel
Elevator Entry Wall Clad in Stainless and Black Steel
A Walnut Portal Creates a Threshold from Entry to Living Space
A Walnut Portal Creates a Threshold from Entry to Living Space
The Custom Dining Table Conceals Vertical Gas Riser with Integrated Linear Light Cove
The Custom Dining Table Conceals Vertical Gas Riser with Integrated Linear Light Cove
A Careful Lighting Composition as the Dining Table Helps Define Space
A Careful Lighting Composition as the Dining Table Helps Define Space
Existing Concrete Columns were Left Exposed but Parged for a Finished Appearance
Existing Concrete Columns were Left Exposed but Parged for a Finished Appearance
Built-In Walnut Bookshelves Flank One End of the Living Space
Built-In Walnut Bookshelves Flank One End of the Living Space
Wall-to-wall Window Bench Provides Storage, Glass Pocket Doors Conceal TV Room
Wall-to-wall Window Bench Provides Storage, Glass Pocket Doors Conceal TV Room
A Black Steel Volume Holds a TV Niche
A Black Steel Volume Holds a TV Niche
Glass Doors Pocket into the Black Steel Volume to Separate the TV Room from Living Space
Glass Doors Pocket into the Black Steel Volume to Separate the TV Room from Living Space
A Linear Light Above the TV Room Sofa Niche Elevates the Space
A Linear Light Above the TV Room Sofa Niche Elevates the Space
A Custom Walnut Sofa Niche in the TV Room
A Custom Walnut Sofa Niche in the TV Room
A Large Chef's Kitchen with Central Island
A Large Chef's Kitchen with Central Island
A Marble-Wrapped Island Adds a Natural Element to the Minimal White Kitchen
A Marble-Wrapped Island Adds a Natural Element to the Minimal White Kitchen
Light Coves and Stainless Elements are Integrated in a Sculptural Ceiling to Conceal and Integrate Existing Conditions
Light Coves and Stainless Elements are Integrated in a Sculptural Ceiling to Conceal and Integrate Existing Conditions
Uplighting Above a Wall of Custom Built-Ins in the Master
Uplighting Above a Wall of Custom Built-Ins in the Master
Wall-to-wall Full Height Built-Ins in the Master Suite Provide Efficient Storage
Wall-to-wall Full Height Built-Ins in the Master Suite Provide Efficient Storage
The Master Suite is Lined with Built-In Cabinetry for Ample Storage
The Master Suite is Lined with Built-In Cabinetry for Ample Storage
A Custom Built-In Walnut Bed Looks Like It's Floating with Linear Lighting Below
A Custom Built-In Walnut Bed Looks Like It's Floating with Linear Lighting Below
A Black-Steel Portal to the Kids Suite Cranks to Hide Existing Building Risers
A Black-Steel Portal to the Kids Suite Cranks to Hide Existing Building Risers