Tactical APERTURES
PenthousE Apartment Renovation
Type: Residential
Location: New York City, New York, United States
Year: 2023
Status: Built
Partners-in-charge: Silvana Herrera & Armando Rigau
Collaborators: Fahey Design Build (Contractor), Matt Simpkins (Photography)
Description: The design intervention in an apartment in Upper West Manhattan focused on targeted demolitions in the main living area, stairway, and master suite, as well as the renovation of materials, finishes, and furniture. The previously existing penthouse boasted an extravagant postmodern design, yet its spaces felt compartmentalized and gloomy. Therefore, we approached the project surgically to reduce the lavishness and enhance spatial connectivity.
Strategically placed apertures in different rooms amplified the apartment’s layout without compromising the overall structure. Increasing natural light penetration from the first level into the private areas was another key strategy to improve continuity between spaces.
In the main living area, custom-designed casework, light fixtures, and furniture were newly installed. The stair was demolished and rebuilt into a new configuration that brightened the space, facilitated movement, and framed dynamic visual connections.
The architectural sequence culminates in the master suite. Previously, the main bathroom was subdivided along a tight corridor. Hence, we designed a radically different layout to consolidate the wet vanity, toilet, and shower into a single space. The new configuration opened to a skylight that bathed the room with natural light.
In this project, tactical interventions pursued an immersive architectural experience. Formal and material choices crafted a fluid yet articulated conception of space. For instance, a dark-colored wood was chosen for the living areas on the first level, but a lighter hue was used for the private quarters on the second floor. In the master bathroom, the heavy appearance of the concrete finish juxtaposes the “unbearable lightness” of the fluted Carrara marble.
