Light filled

Our clients, passionate art lovers and collectors, enlisted us to combine two apartments on the 17th floor of a Fifth Avenue building, offering panoramic views of Central Park and the city. Their goal was to create a space that would showcase their art collection—paintings and sculptures—while providing a neutral backdrop. We transformed the original, segmented layout into an open floor plan that evokes the feel of an art gallery. The design serves as a canvas itself, with soft white walls and a concrete floor featuring irregular bronze inserts. The living, dining, and kitchen areas flow seamlessly around a central volume, displaying art on all sides and creating a light-filled, uninterrupted space. To preserve the gallery amb... More

Designed for a couple with a young family who wanted to make the most of this small house, we created plenty of open floor space and lots of natural light while also making the house energy efficient. We accomplished that by placing floor-to-ceiling windows where possible and even exploring smaller stair spaces with triangular units. Working within the existing envelope, including existing siding that had to remain, we insulated the house from the inside with open-cell foam in wall cavities and a combination of closed-cell foam and mineral wool along basement walls.The final result is a well-performing, energy-efficient house that feels a lot bigger, brighter, and happier without breaking the bank. More