Perry Street, New York, NY

This 4,000 sq.ft. duplex loft occupies the ground floor of a five-story, turn-of-the-century former horse stable. We set out to transform a dark and bunker-like apartment into a bright, livable, and open space for a British art dealer and collector. The client sought a transformation that would make living comfortable and showcase their prestigious collection, featuring works by Anish Kapoor, Lee Ufan, Marina Abramovic, Scott Burton, Joyce Pensato, Lawrence Weiner, and Peter Joseph.

A couple of new openings in the structural concrete slab were created to connect the basement to the ground floor: one to bring daylight from a skylight at the rear all the way down, and one for a new sculptural staircase crafted from ½-inch-thick steel plate. The open plan and circulation strategy were designed to create continuous sightlines from front to back and to make the artwork visible from multiple vantage points.

The interiors embrace a warm palette of honest, natural materials, including 12-inch plank Douglas Fir flooring, concrete, grey oak and Carrera marble. Minimal detailing and simple forms create an unobtrusive backdrop, allowing the art collection to command attention.