Our challenge for this project was to create spatial continuity within a narrow historic
townhouse in the Upper West Side of New York City.
Inspired by the client’s loft-friendly lifestyle, our design concept for their new home was to transform the traditional character of an Upper West Side townhouse into a continuous vertical floor-through space. Our design intention was to adapt and reinterpret the concept of a loft. In our case a vertical loft. To emphasize this feeling of ' openness', we had to work simultaneously on a horizontal and vertical plane.
We therefore introduced the spatial concept of the loft, in this case a vertical loft.
By conceptualizing the ’grand stair’ as a “snake”-like coil, we were able to open up the house vertically with a dynamic light well.
At the top floors the coil of the stair is in a tight U-shape, providing maximum floor area for the private spaces, where the bedrooms, bathrooms and study spaces are located.
As the stair descends into the lower levels, where the most public spaces such as the entry hall, kitchen and living room are located, the coil loosens, opening generously into its surroundings and allowing the most light through. The light filters down to the ground floor as it is reflected off of the smooth white curves of the handrail creating a modern sense of openness and fluidity and uniting all 5 floors.
Horizontally we enlarged the first two levels towards the rear garden and fully glazed the
back facade to provide seamlessly continuity between the interior and exterior. The semi-recessed cellar level was extended by a light well to bring in natural air and light.
On the fifth floor, a new addition accommodates a private entertainment lounge room with uninterrupted views of both north and south Manhattan.
Additional project data:
- Location: New York
- Use: residential
- Typology: Townhouse
- Client: private client
- Completion 2016
- Stories: 5 + Penthouse
- Lot size: 16’-0” x 102’-2”
- Built area: 5,000 sq.ft.
- Cost: $ 3M
- Architect: Space4Architecture (S4A)
- Design Team: Michele Busiri-Vici, Clementina Ruggieri, Pino Pavese, Matteo Biasiolo, Chase Kaars, Gabriela Bruno
- Main Contractor: AJ Greenwich Contracting
- Consultants: Agencie (structural engineer) / PA Collins (MEP engineers)
- Suppliers: Floor (Flynn flooring) / windows (Optimum windows) / Tiles (Mutina) / Millwork (NR woodworking)
New York
USA
Private
06/2015
465 m2
Space4 Architecture
Michele Busiri-Vici, Clementina Ruggieri, Pino Pavese, Gabriela Bruno, Matteo Biasiolo, Chase Kaars
AJ Greenwich
Code LLC, Agencie, PA Collins
Dornbracht, Mutina, Marvin Windows, Optimum Windows, Corian, Gaggenau, Duravit, Deltalight, Valli&Valli, Element Lighting
Beatrice Pediconi
Curriculum
Space4Architecture (S4A) is a New York based architectural design studio working across different scales and typologies, from large scale hospitality and residential buildings to houses, interiors and custom furniture.
At S4A we take pride on forging close collaborative relationships with our clients to produce spaces that address their specific needs and identities, inspiring and involving them through the design process, with the ultimate goal of improving the surroundings in which they live and work.
The office’s reputation for simplicity and clarity of design strengthens with every project researched and completed, as we believe this to be the essential key to creating good and timeless environments for our clients.
S4A was founded in 1999 by Michele Busiri-Vici. Together with current principal Clementina Ruggieri they share an academic background from both the US and Europe and more than 20 yrs professional experience in the United States.
