Studio Vural, a Brooklyn-based architecture firm, completes a Manhattan loft renovation, giving the 1500 sf space a third life.
Built in 1920, the building was originally a herring canning factory back when the far West Village was an industrial port. The large wall of windows and 12 ft ceilings remained, but the open spaces had been converted into Co-op apartments in the late 80’s by architect Cy Winthrop (who lived out his remaining years in this very unit!) Cy’s labor of love completely obscured the original structure with smoky mirrored walls, laminate everything and a small koi pond in a corner of the living room.

Enter Studio Vural, tasked with creating an open “party” space with 3 flexible “bedrooms”, a private primary suite, and a nod to the client’s love of mid-century modern furniture and art. We exposed the original concrete columns and beams and managed to save the 80’s parquet floors and (some) cabinetry. We added contemporary elements such as earthy cement tiles, acoustic felt panels and glass blocks in warm wood.

There were major challenges, one of which was the repair of peeling concrete surfaces. We researched custom mixtures of pigment, concrete and resin that would bond well yet look authentic. Another challenge was to fit  multiple rooms into a such a limited space. All volumes had to be precise in proportion, scale and position in all datums; a 3-D puzzle with no margin of error.

We think of the layout as “pods in a box” with a home office/flex bedroom, a loft reading area and a sleeping nook nestled in a large shell. The pods are clad in oak and green felt and lit through spandrel windows. Large glass blocks provides additional light and a sense of openness. We designed custom built-in furniture with hidden storage to maximize the space while providing sofa seating for 8.

Studio Vural principal Selim Vural says: “Starting with the Vita Herring Factory, our design unveils layers of architectural history and creates a new chapter by contemporizing historic elements. On the exact same concrete slab of an iconic building, a new family, a new life, a new architecture come into being.”

Photography: Kate Glicksberg
Creative Director: Kerry Robertson
Architectural Design: Selim Vural-principal architect, Efecan Zeybek-design architect, Ceren Kalayci-design architect. Construction: Don Kwok