This townhouse renovation in Manhattan definitely has some love-it or hate-it elements to it. That two-story glass façade? Gorgeous! The "conversation pit" styled living room? Well, here's where opinions may start to vary...
The transformation is an intriguing one, though. The goal was to take a building that housed three separate residences, and divide it equally into two. Fractal Construction designed the top two floors, including the penthouse addition. Still, what I find most unusual about the project (and readily apparent in the result), is the inclusion of a lighting designer and a sculptor on the design team. Anyone who knows much about lighting knows that there's a lot to know. And any home can benefit from even the most basic help of a lighting designer. But here, it's clear that designer Ingo Maurer provided much more than that, working with sculptor Emilio Garcia to create sculptural lighting elements in addition to well-lit sculptures.
Panes of glass, transparent during the day, sparkle with LEDs at night; "Schlitz" in the kitchen ceiling add illumination and depth to an otherwise monochromatic and monolithic space; and an exploding sculpture of light hovers above the dining table. This is what collaboration looks like. And whether the interior design is your style or not, I think the results are nothing short of inspiring.
More Info:
• Fractal Construction LLC
• Contemporist
• Architizer
(Images: 1. Contemporist, 2.Contemporist, 3.Fractal Construction)
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Ingo Maurer is much more than the average interior lighting designer!
is it just me, or is this.....well, tacky?
It looks like a money-laundering project.
When is the city going to use eminent domain to take over Gramercy Park, making it a public park and less of a traffic hazard? If Atlantic's Yards is worthy, surely this would be too.
*Atlantic Yards.
totally tacky
Yeah that conversation pit area is a travesty.
What is the seating etiquette in the conversation pit? Are you supposed to straddle your section?
I have a weakness for conversation pits (hey, I grew up in the seventies), but that looks like something out of a hotel. Not very comfy or homey at all, plus there's nowhere to put your drink.
Wow, the lighting fixture over the dining table is really interesting. I'm not sure that I like it, but it's certainly not something I've ever seen before.
I guess everybody has different taste. I think it's absolutely gorgeous. I love the sexy 70's vibe going on in the living room. I think they really pulled it off. I would absolutely love to live there. But to each his or her own. ;)
That first picture -- I guess of the LEDs in the panes of glass? -- makes it look like living in a snow globe. A snow globe with a giant catcher's mitt for a living room.
God... I'm in Love
"It looks like a money-laundering project."
LOL. And... bingo.
I'm torn. I love the vibe but the conversation pit looks like it just arrived from 1971.
Big turn off!
Love the panes of glass with LED lights! Having Ingo Maurer work on your house renovation is pretty impressive!
If you go to the architects' website, the picture of the living room seems more intimate. It's really a great space for entertaining. The vintage Swiss de Sede Snake -- or Endless -- sofas are amazing! They can be configured and reconfigured in all sorts of shapes, and are actually quite comfortable. Great place.
These are some of the funniest, most entertaining comments I've seen on Apartment Therapy. And not hateful at all. Love that.
Design opinion aside, I'm turned off by the lack of privacy. Good morning neighbors!
That couch is a m a z i n g... to each his own! Great plan..great ideas, great collaboration is right. Igno Maurer is amazing.