Situated along the north side of an ocean road, this new house is sited to take full advantage of the view of the adjacent wetlands and Mecox Bay. The infinity edge pool is designed as part of the raised wood deck to the rear, and full height glass window walls afford an uninterrupted vista from the dining and living rooms on the main floor and master bedroom and bath on the upper floor.
House
Song Zhuang A10
One of two “villas” we designed for the art district of Song Zhuang north of Beijing, the Split House is organized around a masonry wall that both bisects and envelops the main forms of the house. “The Wall” creates two separately glazed forms: the street-side façade of the translucent box constructed of fritted glass contains the private spaces (bedrooms); the transparent box with a clear glass façade projecting over the enclosed garden contains the public elements.
The Wall is perforated with windows to light the bedrooms and allow views out while also serving as a screen. Larger window openings in The Wall allow views into vertical circulation spaces. The garden, a continuation of the public spaces, is tied into the main form of the house by engaging The Wall as a growing wall that extends the garden vertically.
Song Zhuang A5
One two “villas” we designed as part of a ten villa complex for art collectors in the art district of Song Zhuang north of Beijing, + House is organized around two intersecting axes: the short axis establishes the entry courtyard void connecting the street to the sunken garden, and the long axis acts as the circulation spine for the organization of the floors above.
In section, the interior and exterior spaces of the house are interconnected, providing unexpected views and visual connections between spaces of varying scale and height. The scale and proportions of the interior spaces work as both gallery and house, thus embracing the intersection of art and living.
The exterior facades feature pre-cast and colored concrete panels, Corten steel and various clear and translucent glass windows and window walls.
O’Connor Townhouse
Our renovation of this five-story Upper West Side townhouse focused on preserving, restoring and recreating the rich, historical features of the house while producing more free-flowing spaces to accommodate the family’s contemporary lifestyle. As we changed the original plan and opened up each of the five floors, roof-top penthouse and cellar, we also meticulously incorporated the original range of decorative details and materials throughout.
To allow natural light to fill the house, we redesigned the central staircase and installed a new skylight the full length of the stairwell. We also enlarged the rear façade windows and added a penthouse garden room opening to a new roof deck.
Palazzo Chupi
For this mixed-use condominium project in Greenwich Village developed by the artist Julian Schnabel, we added nine full floors to an existing three-story commercial building. Working closely with Mr. Schnabel’s vision, and integrating the early twentieth-century design vocabulary of Addison Mizner, we created a unique blend of stylistic influences: traditional arch-headed windows and doors, cast stone detailing and traditional stucco facades.
The final project includes five luxury residential condominiums (two single-floor units, two duplexes, and a triplex) with spacious terraces, two floors of artist studios, a parking garage and a swimming pool with hammam for residents. Distinctive features of the residential units include ceiling heights approaching 20 feet in the duplex living rooms and master bedrooms, full-length terraces, custom door, and window hardware, custom wood paneling and hand-made tiles.
Levy Townhouse
Located in the landmarked Greenwich Village Historic District, this five-story townhouse conveys a simple elegance. It is architecturally grand, yet remains very much a home in feeling and function. For the renovation, we excavated a new cellar, extended the rear wall of the house, completely rebuilt the rear façade with all new openings, added a steel and glass greenhouse room, rebuilt the penthouse, decks, and rear skylights, and installed all landmark-approved windows on the front and rear façades.
Working closely with our European clients and considering every detail, we created a townhouse that reflects and accommodates their lifestyle. Our design for the parlor floor provides an openness and scale that are unusual in a townhouse and allowed us to create an urban great room with 11-foot high ceilings, 10-foot high windows, a spacious living area that flows into the kitchen, and a greenhouse dining area that opens onto the rear garden. A two-story high steel and wood bookcase rises from the parlor floor through to the second floor and master suite. The children’s rooms occupy the third floor. The penthouse, which we transformed into a highly customized sanctuary for the client, an author who works at home, has decks on the front and rear of the house. The basement, which opens on the garden, has guest quarters for visiting family, a media room and a kitchenette.