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
