- Architecture
- Medium
- Apartment in Air
Apartment in Air
The challenge was to make a character-filled home-in-the-air in this unusual shaped space in a 1980s high-rise. Constraints imposed by the building included low ceiling heights, typically interrupted, and bay spacing determined by the windows and structure. The solution was to “float” a series of C-shaped enclosures, both work with the existing bays and yet be a bit free of them. The Cs separated living spaces while keeping the space feeling open, with long views to extend the space while giving purpose and definition to each smaller area. Carved out of the interior was a special library, tucked away yet with natural light. All ceiling services were carefully fit within 4” , allowing for a taller and continuous ceiling throughout.
Special lighting fixtures allowed for multiple reads of the spaces, not only day and night, but also for different emphasis of the space.
The interior spaces, deeper in the floor plate, were activated by extending planes as far as possible, opening up to the views, or with detail to enrichen the character.
View of the digital model, showing the arrangement of the Cs and the carving out of interior spaces.
Detail was used to change the scale from large sweeping spaces to the more intimate and precisely sized rooms.
Control of the materials was in their finishing, the corners, edges and overlaps. Even while addressed, the details remain in the background, providing a sense of quality while supporting daily living.
Extensive modeling allowed for precise and clear decision-making by all.
Plan shows the Cs organized around the windows (on the bottom), with the interior central library and other services, such as the kitchen and master bath.
