LIGHT, BRIGHT AND AIRY: A Vertical Loft in New York

Situated in the heart of Greenwich Village in NYC, SKOLNICK architecture + design partnership’s renovation of an 1830s townhouse has created a new type of loft living, transforming traditional design concepts into a vertical space fit for a family.

Preserve and update

To honour the history of this federal style façade, the architects retained many of the original interior floor plates as well as the existing exterior. While from street-side the elegant 19th century house looks much like its neighbours, the space transforms as soon as one moves inside, revealing a larger-than-life open-plan living space filled with natural light.

The request from the homeowners was to create an “urban oasis, a place of quiet and repose”, both in its own interior layout and style and in opening embracing views of the leafy green gardens for which the area is known. And while the exterior reflects the past, the interior and rear elevation succeed in combining a modern sensibility with the warm embrace one would want to feel in a family home.

A cool warmth

To achieve the desired ambience within the residence, the architects installed full height glazing along the rear elevation, which allows for natural light to spill into all five floors of the home as well as the lower-level living/dining area, which features direct access to a leafy outdoor courtyard. Not only is natural light embraced in this façade, but the home was also designed to allow it to spill down the stairwell, from the fifth floor through to the living space.

Glass remains a key fixture throughout, grazing the wooden staircases, enclosing the mezzanines incorporated into two of the five floors and featuring in the home’s finishings. While the house stands comfortably on its own, the personality of the family home is emphasised in softer materials, incorporating curated details that make the house feel even more one-of-a-kind.