Last week, New York Magazine's annual Home Design issue hit newsstands and mailboxes and we're still enjoying the wide variety of homes featured. The most notable? The 14th Street townhouse that was renovated by architect Bill Peterson.
The garage-door-like front facade was custom designed by Bill Peterson to create a modern space in a building from 1869. While 14th Street isn't exactly our ideal location for such a feature, the apartment is amazing and the unique design solutions a rare treat — from New York:
A pair of buffers keeps the outside and inside environments separate. The first, a 42-inch-high railing of ultraclear glass, acts as a safety barrier. The second, an “air curtain wall system” that shoots air from the ceiling at high velocity, creates a thermal barrier and bug screen.
For Before & After pictures and more information about this unique space, visit New York Magazine | The Wall Vanishes and the very informative slide show with resources for furniture, lighting and finishes.
Images: David Sundberg
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I would like to see an after photo of the outside with the wall down to see how it works with the exterior of the rest of the building.
seattlearchitects- please read the post...this is all addressed!
that's a pretty high tech garage door hyukhyuk
it's cool, but something i would never want - not in that environment. too close to the street, sidewalk, tall people hahah
This seems like a high tech version of something I would have dreamed of as a kid. Even though this is basically an impossibility for me for many reasons, this inspires me to not be afraid of things I might dismiss as "juvenile". Thanks.
Cool.
nice, prefer something cozier though
That wall is amazing, but I have to agree, that is a terrible location. One block above 14th Street I'd prefer to be putting in additional walls to separate me from the noise and filth instead of removing them.
I absolutely love this place. I love how they took negatives and made them positives; the wall, the garage door, the blue window treatment with the large mirror between the windows, which makes the security gates look more like an art installation than a security feature. Hey, in NY a neighborhood can change at the drop of a dime, who knows who the neighbors will be in five years (for the better!). Great apartment.
Umm, no.
Cool, but no.
I was amazed by this apt when i read the issue. Personally i'd prefer the open wall in the back possibly overlooking a garden so its more private but its an incredible idea.
It's a cool design, but not in this location. 14th street is positively one of the ugliest streets in Manhattan.
too much, too clever
For dmstudio and others who want to see what the exterior looks like with the wall closed, go to the google maps street view for 224 E 14th St, New York.
that's awesome!
but i REALLY like that couch even more! any idea on the source?
This being colour month and all, I have to come back and post that every time I see this picture, I am struck and amazed at how beautiful the colour combination of plum and purple/periwinkle is . I can't recall ever seen it done before; it's is a stunner.
And that looks like a Knoll sofa to me...
The T-shirt just looks ridiculous. I liked everything else.
I'm not so sure I like the idea of having the front of my apartment that open... I like privacy in my home, and that just doesn't work for me... especially in NYC of all places. I'll pass.
Bosch Vacuum
Floor Steam Cleaner
My favorite two things in this home are the roll up wall, and the wonderful patio set on the wall that became art!! I have always wanted to do both these!! Space increased by light is one of my favorite things!!
Oh. my.
This is a stunner - one of those ideas you can't believe can be real but that really inspire you to think outside he box.
Congrats to the designers, and courage to the inhabitants :)
I like most things about the quilt-themed bedroom except for the actual quilt on the bed.
As for location, I really like that he's being a pioneer. He's probably gotten a great deal on a place that may be worth a lot more down the road. I wish him luck if he's predicting.
freaking fantastic. creative. amazing transformation.
Forget about specs and codes, that roll-up wall is effing awewome!
I've lived a couple of blocks away from here most of my life and have never seen that 2nd floor open to the street like that.
Be careful when you go to the link, it re-sized my browser window, made Firefox crash, and caused other problems.
But I love the sofa...
What a fabulous idea! I wonder if that "wall of air" would work in Louisiana??
This is the kind of thing I come to AT for ... even though it originated in NY Magazine, which I annoyingly failed to snatch up on the newsstand when I arrived in NY last week.
This is the design equivalent to imaging a rocket ship when one was a child -- before we really built one and went to the moon.
NYC is a tough environment to live in. I think by dint of incredible imagination, these people made one of the most challenging locations a beautiful tribute to the human spirit. I love it -- all of it.