The combination of garden-level and basement-level units into a 3 bedroom apartment began with the establishment of the kitchen as the hub of the home. An 11’ steel beam was inserted into a wall that carries 5 additional stories above it, opening the kitchen to the adjacent living and dining spaces. Careful consideration was given to the design of cabinetry and storage for appliances and cooking equipment to make effective use of a tight layout. The material palette features walnut plywood and hardwood, natural quartzite slab, poured concrete, and stainless steel. Layers of framing and plaster are cut back in key locations to reveal the original brick walls of the 1850’s townhouse. A new connecting stair between the two levels is defined by a powder-coated steel mesh and walnut railing system with a nesting child-safety gate. The two gas fireplaces that are the second level’s heat sources are adorned in custom metal surrounds, one using lapped copper sheet and the other using nesting, perforated steel that was laser-cut and folded to fit together.
Photography: SHAKE
