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East Village Townhouse by Bill Peterson
New York Magazine

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

Tags

real estate, New York Magazine, renovation, East Village, Bill Peterson

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Comments (28)

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.

posted by dmstudio on October 21st 2009 at 2:25pm
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The roll up wall is interesting. Where's the code required railing, though?

posted by seattlearchitects on October 21st 2009 at 2:30pm
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seattlearchitects- please read the post...this is all addressed!

posted by Aaron on October 21st 2009 at 2:30pm
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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

posted by kdkaboom on October 21st 2009 at 2:37pm
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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.

posted by Berae on October 21st 2009 at 2:44pm
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Cool.

posted by aj on October 21st 2009 at 2:54pm
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nice, prefer something cozier though

posted by mybluesofa on October 21st 2009 at 2:57pm
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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.

posted by amt230 on October 21st 2009 at 3:02pm
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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.

posted by cliokitty on October 21st 2009 at 3:41pm
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Umm, no.

Cool, but no.

posted by mschatelaine on October 21st 2009 at 4:25pm
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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.

posted by Bridget212323 on October 21st 2009 at 4:52pm
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It's a cool design, but not in this location. 14th street is positively one of the ugliest streets in Manhattan.

posted by Molunat on October 21st 2009 at 11:54pm
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too much, too clever

posted by Elise_B on October 22nd 2009 at 4:53am
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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.

posted by albertsok on October 22nd 2009 at 11:19am
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that's awesome!

but i REALLY like that couch even more! any idea on the source?

posted by Erin Lang Norris/Yellow Canoe on October 22nd 2009 at 2:24pm
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Dear sweet merciful crap. This is amazing.

posted by medusa12120 on October 24th 2009 at 5:59pm
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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...

posted by mschatelaine on October 24th 2009 at 6:55pm
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The T-shirt just looks ridiculous. I liked everything else.

posted by LadyLabRat on October 25th 2009 at 8:12am
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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

posted by CharleyBrown on October 25th 2009 at 10:14am
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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!!

posted by KitchenNooknCook on October 26th 2009 at 7:19am
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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 :)

posted by natienka on October 26th 2009 at 3:24pm
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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.

posted by Glasgow Jewelbox on October 26th 2009 at 3:49pm
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freaking fantastic. creative. amazing transformation.

posted by centrd on October 26th 2009 at 4:47pm
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Forget about specs and codes, that roll-up wall is effing awewome!

posted by chinacapri on October 26th 2009 at 6:29pm
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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.

posted by Dawnmeshell on October 26th 2009 at 11:54pm
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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...

posted by h347h0r on October 27th 2009 at 12:26am
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What a fabulous idea! I wonder if that "wall of air" would work in Louisiana??

posted by blondie70809 on October 27th 2009 at 2:08pm
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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.

posted by AustinSarah on October 27th 2009 at 9:17pm
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