Architecture/Interior Design:
Robert D. Henry Architects
Robert D. Henry, AIA, Principal
Michael Lim, Principal
Client:
Luda Conti, competitive ballroom dancer and founder of Avanti Day Resort, a salon and medical spa
Size:
2,400 square feet
Program:
Comprehensive residential remodel; custom furniture and lighting
Site:
A pre-war condominium conversion on Rector Street originally built in 1920, and renovated into luxury residences in 2001, with views of Battery Park, the Hudson River, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
Design:
Robert D. Henry Architects’ dramatic renovation of Conti Residence integrates the owner’s dynamic personality with her passions for competitive dancing and hosting social gatherings. A design highlight of the project is the living room that doubles as a ballroom dance floor. The needs for relaxation are carefully balanced with the homeowner’s requirement for a high-energy performance and entertainment space. A neutral color palette of black and white, accented by hints of shimmer—including a 20-foot custom lighting installation and floor-to-ceiling drapery—contribute to the glamourous atmosphere. A recessed ceiling evocative of a post-and-beam adds visual interest throughout.
A keyed elevator entry leads toward a long hallway and into an open kitchen designed for ease of interaction between guests and the homeowner while preparing meals. An island countertop made from a solid slab of Carrara marble offers a casual dining option and is situated adjacent to a countertop and backsplash of the same material. A bespoke dining room table—also of Carrara and custom designed by the architects— with seating for eight extends the dining experience into the living room.
An ethereal lighting installation of spherical crystals, which appear suspended in space, was custom designed and fabricated by the architects as a contemporary reinterpretation of grandiose chandeliers often found in opera houses and theaters. The fixture extends over the island countertop and dining room table to connect the kitchen and entertainment areas, while crystal candelabras provide additional pops of glamour.
Anchoring the space is a vintage white D. H. Baldwin grand piano for impromptu playing. To the right sits a leather sectional sofa, providing flexibility for few to comfortably sprawl, or for many to sit as spectators to events unfolding in the living room. A walnut sprung floor, whose dark finish complements the dining chairs and coffee table, provides a warm, welcoming feeling, along with the full functionality and shock absorption of a ballroom dance floor.
Firm:
Robert D. Henry Architects (RDHA) is an award-winning, full-service architecture studio that specializes in wellness-driven, human-centered design. Established in 1990 by Robert D. Henry, the firm offers architecture, interior design, planning, and brand identity services that lead to sensuous architectural experiences for clients across the US, Europe, Asia, South Pacific, and the Middle East. RDHA successfully forges compelling, health-focused hospitality design solutions for world-renowned restaurants, resorts, hotels, and spas, as well as dynamic single- and multi-family residential spaces. In 2007, Robert D. Henry was recognized by the “Platinum Circle” as Designer of the Year in honor of lifetime achievements in wellness design. He is the co-author of Spa: The Sensuous Experience, a worldwide tour of the most spectacular spas, handpicked by Henry and fellow spa aficionado Julie D. Taylor, Hon. AIA.
Affiliates:
Executive Architect: Hustvedt Cutler Architects
Contractor: Pro Job Design
MEP Engineer: EXP Engineering Services
Structural Engineer: Standard Engineering
Photography: Paul Warchol Photography, Inc.
