New And Old Coexisting Harmoniously

   New York is a posh metropolis. A playground for the rich and affluent, it is no revelation that it is one of the more costly cites to reside. As of January 2012, the median price for a house in New York was slightly over one million dollars. With real estate being so expensive, and space limited; those deciding to make New York their home base must look at more innovative ways of living. This is where architects and interior designers play a big role, getting the biggest bang for their clients buck.

               

   One way that this is accomplished is by building up. Large high-rise apartments towering over the city below. Another option is repurposing older buildings to meet today’s modern requirements. Along the streets of New York, modern architecture blends seamlessly with historic buildings. Located in the Tribeca neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City is a prime example.

  The Inverted Warehouse Townhouse was the creation of Dean-Wolf Architects. Both Charles Wolf (architect) and Eunjeong Seong (designer) were in charge of the project. The highly awarded architect firm of Dean-Wolf was created in 1991. They pride themselves on employing designs that manipulate the use of light and space, blurring the lines of interior and exterior.

   This Tribeca loft has been engineered so that just as the name suggests, it is inverted on itself, with the entrance to this building on the fifth floor rather than on the ground floor. Strategically placed glass walls and ceilings allows light to filter in, brightening up all 10,500 square feet of what would otherwise be a very dark building. Here, new and old blend perfectly creating a cohesive space that flows.

   Soaring ceilings create the illusion of a larger space, while a well thought layout allows the space to function. The rigid lines of industrial architecture are softened by the use of whimsical touches. The solid wall of grey brick brings rhythm throughout. Wooden staircases inconspicuously hug the wall, descending to the lower levels of the building. Using an array of materials, steel, stone, wood and concrete, creates an eye catching contrast that adds to the visual unity of the building.

   Modern furniture with clean lines has been arranged with a keen eye, so that each room has a full visual impact. The fabric used is soft to tone down the harsh atmosphere of the building. A combination of light and dark hues are used, which again balance out the space. Designed for a simplistic lifestyle, each room is organized so that personal items are neatly put away.

   Contained efficiently within this townhouse are: Kitchen and dining room located on the fifth floor. A reading court on the fourth floor, where you can view the garden above. A living room with penthouse ceilings. The lower levels of the building house playrooms, a study, and bedrooms. This house is built in such a way, that if you were to stand on the fifth floor you would be able to look down at each of the proceeding levels all the way to the ground floor.















Pictures Copyright of Paul Warchol

Works Cited

- Seipell , Tuija. The Cool Hunter. Inverted Warehouse Townhouse. December 20, 2012. <http://www.thecoolhunter.net/article/detail/2039/inverted-warehouse-townhouse--new-york >

-Trulia. New York Market Trends. December 20, 2012. <http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/New_York-New_York/market-trends/ >

- Foiret, Cyril. Inverted Warehouse Townhouse. Trendhome. June 22, 2012. December 12, 2012. <http://trendland.com/trendhome-inverted-warehouse-townhouse-new-york/# >

-Dean, Katheryn. Wolf, Charles. Dean/Wolf Architects. December 12, 2012 <http://www.dean-wolf.com/projects/invertedwarehouse/01.html >

-Architectural Record. Inverted Warehouse Townhouse. December 12, 2012. <http://archrecord.construction.com/residential/featured_houses/2011/02/inverted_warehouse_townhouse.asp