Our client, a couple of art lovers and collectors, asked us to combine 2
apartments on the 17th floor of an apartment building on Fifth avenue,
with sweeping views of Central park and NYC.
Their desire was to have a space that would allow them to display their collection of art, from paintings to sculptures.
Our task was then to create a space especially crafted to show art at its best.
Our concept was clear from the beginning: the entire apartment would
serve as a canvas of sort, a lucid backdrop for their art to be the sole
protagonist of the scene. It needed to be a neutral, clear and precise
space.
We achieved that by transforming the space originally divided in several
rooms into an open floor plan, a reminder of an art gallery, expect one
that has also magnificent views of Central Park.
The result is a continuous and light filled space.
Entry hall, living, dining and kitchen are all contiguous to each other
and organized around a single centered volume that receives artworks on
all sides.
By also keeping compact, yet comfortable bedrooms and bathrooms, and
dedicating openness and spaciousness to the common areas, we were able
to achieve a visually uninterrupted space.
All finishes are kept with the "canvas" concept in mind: walls and
ceiling are painted white, the floor is poured in place concrete with
irregular embedded bronze inserts. Only when entering bathrooms and
bedrooms, one is surprised to find strong colors purposely in contrast
with the rest of the apartment.
All furniture are very light in color to not compete with the art, thus contributing for an open reading of the overall space.
Status: Built
Location: New York, NY, US
My Role: Design Architect and Project Manager
Additional Credits: Space4 Architecture