Project Details
- Project Name
- Photographer's Loft
- Project Types
- Workspace
- Project Scope
- Interiors
- Year Completed
- 2015
- Shared by
- Hanley Wood
- Team
-
Rodkin Cardinale Consulting Engineers, Mechincal Engineer
Noranda SP, General Contractor
- Project Status
- Built
- Room or Space
- Home Office
2016 Residential Architect Design Awards
Architectural Interiors: Award
This 5,000-square-foot loft in New York City is a minimalist composition of white, light-bathed ceilings and walls, with accents of oak, steel, aluminum, and resin. It is the studio and residence of a photographer, divided into public and private zones that come together in a library and reception area off the entry.
Inspired by the work of James Turrell, Desai Chia Architecture’s Photographer’s Loft—which juror Kevin Kudo-King called simply “beautiful”—makes extensive use of LED lighting, cutting and folding ceiling planes to give the light form and bounce it around. The open, flowing layout allows for long axial views. Functional elements like the steel kitchen island and resin work tables in the studio also have a sculptural quality. “I appreciate how the spaces were divided—it shows a sensitivity to detail,” juror Anne Decker said. “I also think the handling of light in the space was incredibly well done.”
The loft’s public zone revolves around a living/dining/kitchen ensemble lit by windows on two sides. In the private zone, the bathrooms are quiet retreats from urban life, with waterproof white-resin walls and custom sinks, shower areas, and niches, complemented by floors of striated stone.
Project Description
FROM THE AIA:
This industrial loft renovation was designed for a photographer seeking a serene live-work environment. The library/reception area immediately off the entry vestibule serves as a hinge for two distinct zones – the east zone flows directly into the ‘private’ domain of her photography studio and private bedroom, while the south zone flows into the ‘public’ domain of her kitchen, dining, and living areas. By cutting and folding the ceiling planes, light gently bounces throughout and anchors the seating areas. Functional raw steel, wood, and resin elements artfully shape the environment throughout.
FROM THE 2018 AIA INSTITUTE HONOR AWARDS FOR INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE JURY:
This is exquisitely detailed and crafted so much so that it appears one would be living in artwork. It has a beautiful implementation of light with a minimal palette.
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
We designed this Tribeca loft as a home, work space, and gallery
for a photographer. A library/reception area immediately off of the
entry vestibule allows her to meet with gallerists and research new
themes for her work. That space serves as a hinge for two distinct
zones in the loft: the east zone flows directly into the ‘private’
domain of her photography studio and back to her private bedroom, while
the south zone flows into the ‘public’ domain of her kitchen, dining,
and living areas.
The loft also has a guest bedroom suite and a
large master bathroom. The master bath is an immersive chamber of light
and striated stone, a soothing respite from the intensity of the city.
We
crafted raw steel, satin aluminum, solid oak, and white resin design
features throughout the loft. They are designed as minimal art moments
as much as they are functional elements for storage, dining and work
areas. Inspired by the art of James Turrell, we designed several
lighting strategies to enhance the architecture while giving form to
the light. By cutting and folding the ceiling planes, we were able to
gently bounce light into the living areas, kitchen, bathrooms, and
library. Even rooms that do not have windows feel airy and luminous.
The proportions and materials of the new architecture complement the
client’s collection of Donald Judd and mid-century furniture.
-via Desai Chia Architecture