The clients wanted us to create a space that was open feeling, with lots of storage, room to entertain large groups, and a warm and sophisticated color palette. In response to this, we designed a layout in which the corridor is eliminated and the experience upon entering the space is open, inviting and more functional for cooking and entertaining. In contrast to the public spaces, the bedroom feels private and calm tucked behind a wall of built-in cabinetry. Lincoln Barbour

Photos by Julie Soefer

Oliver Simon Design

Photography by Meredith Heuer

Photography by Eduard Hueber / archphoto North and south exposures in this 3000 square foot loft in Tribeca allowed us to line the south facing wall with two guest bedrooms and a 900 sf master suite. The trapezoid shaped plan creates an exaggerated perspective as one looks through the main living space space to the kitchen. The ceilings and columns are stripped to bring the industrial space back to its most elemental state. The blackened steel canopy and blackened steel doors were designed to complement the raw wood and wrought iron columns of the stripped space. Salvaged materials such as reclaimed barn wood for the counters and reclaimed marble slabs in the master bathroom were used to enhance the industrial feel of the space.

Jörn Blohm, Florian Schätz

Andy Haslam

The view from Shapiro’s office opens up to the entire loft. To address the inherent challenge of creating intimacy in an open environment, Karen and Daniel chose the sectional, by Gus Modern, as a means to define the living area. The green lamp is an antique store find, and the vintage Danish side table was found at a local collector, proving that high style is well worth the search. Photo: Adrienne M DeRosa © 2012 Houzz Design: KEA Design

How to create zones in a space to define the areas and maintain a massive sense of scale with intimate elements

Gut renovation of 1880's townhouse. New vertical circulation and dramatic rooftop skylight bring light deep in to the middle of the house. A new stair to roof and roof deck complete the light-filled vertical volume. Programmatically, the house was flipped: private spaces and bedrooms are on lower floors, and the open plan Living Room, Dining Room, and Kitchen is located on the 3rd floor to take advantage of the high ceiling and beautiful views. A new oversized front window on 3rd floor provides stunning views across New York Harbor to Lower Manhattan. The renovation also included many sustainable and resilient features, such as the mechanical systems were moved to the roof, radiant floor heating, triple glazed windows, reclaimed timber framing, and lots of daylighting. All photos: Lesley Unruh http://www.unruhphoto.com/

After extensive residential re-developments in the surrounding area, the property had become landlocked inside a courtyard, difficult to access and in need of a full refurbishment. Limited access through a gated entrance made it difficult for large vehicles to enter the site and the close proximity of neighbours made it important to limit disruption where possible. Complex negotiations were required to gain a right of way for access and to reinstate services across third party land requiring an excavated 90m trench as well as planning permission for the building’s new use. This added to the logistical complexities of renovating a historical building with major structural problems on a difficult site. Reduced access required a kit of parts that were fabricated off site, with each component small and light enough for two people to carry through the courtyard. Working closely with a design engineer, a series of complex structural interventions were implemented to minimise visible structure within the double height space. Embedding steel A-frame trusses with cable rod connections and a high-level perimeter ring beam with concrete corner bonders hold the original brick envelope together and support the recycled slate roof. The interior of the house has been designed with an industrial feel for modern, everyday living. Taking advantage of a stepped profile in the envelope, the kitchen sits flush, carved into the double height wall. The black marble splash back and matched oak veneer door fronts combine with the spruce panelled staircase to create moments of contrasting materiality. With space at a premium and large numbers of vacant plots and undeveloped sites across London, this sympathetic conversion has transformed an abandoned building into a double height light-filled house that improves the fabric of the surrounding site and brings life back to a neglected corner of London. Interior Stylist: Emma Archer Photographer: Rory Gardiner

Copyright @ Emily Andrews. All rights reserved.

This midcentury modern house was transformed from a municipal garage into a private house in the late 1950’s by renowned modernist architect Paul Rudolph. At project start the house was in pristine condition, virtually untouched since it won a Record Houses award in 1960. We were tasked with bringing the house up to current energy efficiency standards and with reorganizing the house to accommodate the new owners’ more contemporary needs, while also respecting the noteworthy original design. Image courtesy © Tony Luong