PJCArchitecture undertook a gut renovation of a 1400-square-foot duplex apartment on Manhattan’s Park Avenue to create a contemporary space more suited to the homeowners’ lifestyle. Tasked with retrofitting a dark and outdated unit in a 1960’s-era envelope, the team enhanced connectivity between the north and south wings to maximize natural light and increase spatial efficiencies. Completed in collaboration with Cortlandt Contracting Corporation and Brittany Marom Interior Design, the resultant apartment conveys the homeowner’s desired contemporary Parisian aesthetic through open and airy spaces, herringbone floors, and crown, panel, and base moldings.
In the entrance to the home, PJCArchitecture enhanced the foyer by widening the hallway and creating space for a bench and staging area. The first element visitors see upon entering the home is the primary staircase, formerly dark and constricted by surrounding curved walls. The team removed the curved walls to allow light to come through, lit the stairs for an additional glow, and constructed a minimal metal railing for the sides. The staircase now appears to float and is a distinct sculptural feature that greets guests upon arrival.
On the first level to the right of the stair is the open-concept dining and kitchen area, and to the left is the living room. By widening openings between the north and south wings of the home, the team was able to bring more light into the foyer and core of the apartment. Challenged by low structural members and building restrictions, PJCA specified recessed lights with shallow housings in order to raise ceilings in most areas, creating a more spacious feel. The millwork in the home is entirely custom, including the kitchen cabinetry and built-in desk space in the kitchen/dining area. The living space features a custom bar with metallic finishes and a bookshelf with a sliding wall to enclose the television while not in use. PJCA incorporated a new faux fireplace for a traditional feel and to serve as the central axis of the room around which the furniture could be arranged.
Continuing up the stairs, the space is bright and airy, where a formerly long and narrow hallway is transformed into a small ante room that leads to the bedrooms. The primary bedroom boasts an exterior balcony, ensuite bathroom, and two walk-in closets. The guest bedroom also has its own ensuite bathroom. The team incorporated the remainder of the former second-floor hallway into the new spacious laundry room that has its own operable building door, allowing it to also serve as a mud room, storage room, and space for cart and stroller parking.
Maintaining a commitment to sustainable design, PJCA incorporated low-flow toilets, LED lights, and Dekton countertops with a low environmental impact. With a strengthened connection between the north and south wings, the new home is light-filled and airy, with a contemporary Parisian feel that suits the client’s tastes.
