Modern Split-Level in the East Village The New York Times 2.26.09

As a resident of the East Village, I'm not sure why anyone would build a luxury doorman building on 7th Street between Avenues C & D — but apparently someone did and then Anil Shrivastava and Namita Luthra bought an apartment and hired architects at Pulltab Design to create a modernist retreat. The New York Times shows the beautifully simple space that features a polished concrete floor, reflecting pool, ivy wall and pull-down/flip up tables hidden in a large paneled wall...

I'm fond of the hidden pops of color (like behind the drop-down table for 10) and the tasteful floor-to-ceiling windows. Not too keen on the reflecting pool though...

See the full article, Indian Modern Redux, and all the pictures in the slideshow.

There are even more images of the space on the Pulltab Design site (7th Street Residence).

(Images: Elizabeth Felicella)

Comments (18)

A little sterile for my tastes, but lovely nonetheless. I wish the photographs showed a little more of the home, especially the bedrooms/balconies.

Does anyone know where I might be able to find a print similar to the Iceland photo in their living room? Thanks!

It's beautiful, it's gorgeous, it's a lovely surprise that it's in the East Village. BUT, in my humble, native New Yorker opinion, it doesn't belong. NYC has lost so much of its essence. Yes, change and transformation are major parts to NYC's image, but this type of change that is geared towards the wealthy, does not serve the real people of New York. It serves the people with an enormous amount of expendable income. In the past five years, if not more, the socio-economic class has become startlingly homogenized, making NYC a playground for the nouveau riche and unattainable for those who don't have a 6 figure salary. In some respects, I am ever so slightly relieved (I stress "ever so slighty") that NYC was hit so hard by the economic downturn. Perhaps, the playing field will become more even.

The pool does look a little murky, but what a great idea.

Love that wall of folding tables! I wonder what else is hidden away in there...

I live on this block and I've been wondering whether the apartments in this building really are as sterile as they appear from the outside. Apparently yes. I don't think the architects did a bad job; I think the pool & built-ins are lovely. It's just that this space doesn't seem to have much in the way of personality beyond what the architects contributed. Also, the article is not exactly accurate in calling this a "new" building. It certainly isn't "old" but there have been people living in it for at least a year, maybe a year and a half, and the last I heard, the penthouse on the very top still hasn't been finished because there's no buyer. It's unfinished but it ain't new.

susana - that digital image they have is from LUMAS. That particular image is sold out but their are tons more like it, all relatively inexpensive or at least, affordable.

:O what a great place! I love the building! And the whole distribution of the space.
Jawdropper.

I walked by that building many a time and asked myself why would anyone with money want to live in that part of East Village. It's not a matter of gentrification, it's a matter of some of these blocks not being particularly nice looking. Not to mention loud and dirty. As nice as this place is it could be geographically anywhere. It has no New York feel to it. Maybe that was a conscious choice on the owners' part. Who knows...

Just to calibrate BB's "affordability scale: The larger Lumas prints (e.g. 4' x 5') are a ~$3k mounted.

Such pretty stairs, and the orange niche where the table flips down is lovely. The indoor pond/reflecting pool is just bad planning, in my opinion. Too much like the lobby of a hotel or office building, and it would contribute too much moisture and odor to the room. (And dangerous for small children, too). I walked around the East Village on a very recent visit to NYC, and it certainly has become the land of the wealthy and wanna'-be-hip. Maybe the people in this building feel that they are a step ahead of the creeping gentrification -- which is great if you are one of them, and annoying if you aren't.

... that wasn't very clear. By East Village, I don't mean quite so far east as this building.

Here's a link to three units for sale in this building. I live nearby and think this building is beautiful - modern with a traditional feel. Large windows remind me of some of flats in Europe.

I'm gonna say it. I don't like that space. The white built in wall looks so office-y and sterile, and everything is so linear and harsh. All the little pop-out or built-in furniture makes me think of those fancy motor homes where every square inch must be cleverly used. That's nice on a bus, not so much in a spacious apartment. And, is it just me, but how on earth do you have 2 young children and a pond in your living room. I mean, really?
To be fair, I looked at the architects website and think all their residential spaces look like offices, not just this one.

I love the introduction of nature into the minimalist space with the pond and wall of Ivy. :) Bringing the outdoors indoors is always a winner in my book!

Not very compelling IMO. But it looks very expensive, so if you want people to know you spent a lot or have really good credit, this is one way to do that.