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Design Analyses of a Soho Loft:
A concept
project transforming a commercial building for residential use.
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Scope of
Work - To design an unfitted
commercial space of 2500 square feet in a seven story converted warehouse for use as a
family loft, maintaining a common building entrance and elevator and prescribing to all fire,
safety, handicap, and other codes as required. Design parameters included
living space on the upper two floors of the structure, incorporating a
mezzanine, and making use of existing support columns that were spaced randomly throughout the
interior.
Additionally, private access to the rooftop was needed with suitable
entertaining space designed to take advantage of the south east view of the
Brooklyn Bridge and the city.
Design Concept -
Was based on a professional couple
who purchase a loft in lower Manhattan, have two young children, and the
husband's handicapped father lives with them and teaches piano lessons in the home.
The husband is a doctor in private practice and the wife is an art dealer for a
notable acquisitions firm. Notably, they share a keen interest in art,
especially the Expressionistic movement, and as such, would like to fashion the
look of their loft around the Matisse painting "Piano Lesson".
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Using the "Piano Lesson" as
inspiration for the design of the family loft, a highly stylized design
approach was taken.
Attention was given to wall, floor, and ceiling
placement and scale and design in order to create drama and geometry
conducive with the Matisse's work.
Well-defined shapes were specified for
decorative lighting and recessed and spot light applications were
incorporated to highlight art and architectural features in order to
create the desired gallery effect. |
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Bold blocks of color were presented in key areas to express the
Matisse color palette and were juxtaposed against features of less
intensity to highlight positive and negative space.
The use of texture on finishes, countertops, cabinetry, and in
the fabrics prescribed represented the primal elements of
Matisse's art
and the
Expressionist movement. |
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This stylistic approach was
evident in the design of the staircase, which was a close mimic of the
decorative railing featured in the "Piano Lesson". The staircase was
designed and located to be part of a dramatic L-shaped backdrop for the
actual piano area where lessons would take place.
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Adjoining the staircase as
part of the featured backdrop was a soaring wall of citrine green displaying
an oversized "Piano Lesson" on stretched canvas. |
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The perimeter of the main
living area incorporated sleek built-ins for needed family storage.
This streamlined use of vertical planes goes horizontal in the angular
progression of lower cabinetry that incorporates irregular support columns in
the space.
Sleek finishes make up the
clean lines that allow the clients' decorative art to be fully realized.
These finishes define areas creating intimate zones without obstructing the
visual flow, supporting loft design. |
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The
design layout was crucial in that it had to accommodate the
physical needs of the family in a way that would respect their private space
individually as well as allow for family socializing and congruently provide
handicap access for the grandfather and appropriate space for conducting
piano lessons.
The design solution provided for the
family's public space on the lower floor of the unit with access to the
upper floor and rooftop via private elevator. The grandfather's
private bedroom suite was situated on the lower floor for easy access to the
main family living space. Likewise, the piano area was situated on the
lower floor to accommodate the grandfather's piano lessons and lessen foot
traffic into the family home by students. |
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The design layout was to maintain the loft
experience of openness and to take advantage of the natural light that
filters into the space as well as the dramatic southeast views of the
city.
The design solution presented a layout that
situated the main living area of the loft up against the southeast walls to
take advantage of the available fenestrations. The family rooftop was
also situated on the southeast side of the building in order to take
advantage of these dramatic views and was provided a space layout for ease
of entertaining. |
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The grandfather's bedroom takes
inspiration from music. Actual sheet music is used as wallpaper for
his private bathroom. The use of sleek finishes juxtaposed against
textured backgrounds symbolizes the ebb and flow of rhythm. |
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