Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Manhattan Loft Slides Into Flexibility
Sliding doors and "smart glass" windows help turn a constricting apartment into an expansive, open loft
This Houzz Tour is a case of art influencing life: architect Azin Valy took inspiration from her client's artistic work when transforming a cramped two-bedroom apartment in Manhattan's Nolita neighborhood into an open, expansive loft. In her work, client and artist Suzanne Russell often deals with "interrelated parts that are always moving and changing." It's a philosophy that Valy applied when she incorporated sliding doors, built-in cabinets and "smart glass" windows that go from transparent to opaque.
"Casper [Russell's partner, a Danish lawyer] also has an eye for perfection and minimalism, so the loft is our collaborative attempt at translating their need for a space that reflects their personalities and ideas," says Valy.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A retirement home for Suzanne Russell and Casper Munter
Location: New York City
Size: 1,500 square feet
That's interesting: In the late 1900s, the apartment was tenement housing.
"Casper [Russell's partner, a Danish lawyer] also has an eye for perfection and minimalism, so the loft is our collaborative attempt at translating their need for a space that reflects their personalities and ideas," says Valy.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A retirement home for Suzanne Russell and Casper Munter
Location: New York City
Size: 1,500 square feet
That's interesting: In the late 1900s, the apartment was tenement housing.
All the walls in the apartment were stripped down to the original brick foundation. "The apartments used to be row-house buildings before they were converted into condominiums in the 1980s," says Valy.
The sleek, contemporary spirit of the appliances, the Caesarstone countertop and the white cabinetry contrasts with the reclaimed white oak flooring and recycled-beam bar in the kitchen.
Can you see the smart-glass windows that transition from clear to frosted at the flick of a switch (from inside the bathroom)?
Can you see the smart-glass windows that transition from clear to frosted at the flick of a switch (from inside the bathroom)?
Here's a closer look at one of the windows from the kitchen; right now it's in transparent mode and allows light to flood the bath from the main living area. In addition to being a natural light source, the windows are just plain fun.
Kitchen designers: Urban Homes; countertop: Caesarstone
Kitchen designers: Urban Homes; countertop: Caesarstone
Here's a look at the window from inside of the bathroom while it's frosted for privacy.
Materials used in the kitchen are also used in the bathroom, linking the two spaces. "Reclaimed antique subway tiles in the kitchen also surround the bathtub in the bathroom," says Valy. The same Caesarstone countertop used in the kitchen cascades onto sills and shelves in the bathroom as well.
The clients' minimalist style is apparent in the bedroom, where a task lamp and a pair of reclaimed planks are the only decor. A red side table gives the spare space a spot of color.
A close look at this image reveals a mirrored door, which creates the illusion of an extended narrow space by reflecting the space leading into the living room. Interestingly, the hallway used to be a shaft between two row houses.
"Our goal in the renovation was always to reflect the clients' modern sensibilities," says Valy. "But retaining the brick walls and maintaining the appearance of this shaftway-turned-hallway roots the space to its tenant housing history."
"Our goal in the renovation was always to reflect the clients' modern sensibilities," says Valy. "But retaining the brick walls and maintaining the appearance of this shaftway-turned-hallway roots the space to its tenant housing history."
The living room and the dining area can be connected or separated. Sliding doors (the track along the ceiling is pictured here) allow the space to shift from open to private.
A closer look at the sliding doors that separate the living room from the dining area.
Here we see how the sliding door can separate the guest bedroom (at right) from the dining area — and how it can also visually link the two spaces.
The floor plan shows how the living spaces are interconnected and how one area bleeds into another. The apartment retains its open and raw quality with the help of temporary barriers that allow the space to adapt and transform according to the privacy needs of the clients.
More:
400-Square-Foot Unfolding Apartment in Manhattan
More:
400-Square-Foot Unfolding Apartment in Manhattan