Name: Pratt Institute and Third + Bond
Location: Gowanus / Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn
Size: 1,900 square feet, 3-bedroom duplex
While no one lives in these apartments, a lot of thought, preparation, and creativity went into creating these potential homes. Hudson Developers invited Pratt Institute alumni, faculty, and students from the architecture, interior design, industrial design, and fine arts departments to furnish two model apartments in Third + Bond, a new residential development in Brooklyn.
Over the course of a year, these numerous and talented designers ranging in age from 19 to 103 — thanks to Eva Zeisel — curated and custom-designed the entire content of the apartment other than the built-ins! And thanks to their innovation and commitment to sustainability, the furniture, accessories, art, and style are very impressive and inspiring — and often very green. The development is expecting to qualify for LEED-GOLD and Energy Star designations.
Some of these products have been around for years, and some were designed or built specifically for this site. Because there is so much to share, the tour will be a two-part series. Check back in mid-December for more great work courtesy of Pratt.
Apartment Therapy Survey
Style: Modern, affordable, and sustainable
Inspiration: The design of Third + Bond itself as well as Pratt Institute's designers took inspiration from the context of the neighborhood, both its organic and urban ecologies. The finishes, such as the penny mosaic tile in the bathrooms, have a hint of handcrafted that warms up the modern aesthetic. Pairing towels from Pratt — hand-screened with images of Brooklyn’s streetscapes (designed specifically for this project) — with the penny tile is an example of the way designers from Pratt Institute engaged with the Third + Bond architects.
Favorite Element: The site-specific wallpaper created by Pratt students for the Third + Bond model residence interiors. The design was inspired by the legendary oysters of the Gowanus Canal. The soft green palette and textured paper bring the organic indoors and the repeating graphic works perfectly with the spaciousness of the residences.
Biggest Challenge: To curate the residential interiors with Third + Bond’s prospective buyer in mind. It's important that furnishings don't distract but enhance model residences.
What Friends Say: Visitors have been impressed by the stylish, eco-friendly artwork and designs. They love the unexpected furnishings like the buoy stool and the cardboard rockers. They also love the floor plans of the units themselves and all of the eco-friendly design elements like the organic landscaping of the yard.
Biggest Embarrassment: Having to explain how to use the dual flush toilets to total strangers. (“The big button is for when you, you know…”)
Proudest DIY: Use of recycled/recyclable materials. For example, the multi-use recycled cardboard bottle storage, the lighting fixture created by Pratt architecture students and Professor Anthony Caradonna made of stacked and laminated cardboard cutouts, and the recycled wool stools by alumna Sara Ebert made out of old sweaters.
Biggest Indulgence: Modern classics by renowned designers Eva Zeisel, Bruce Hannah, and Bill Katavolos.
Best Advice: Mix and match classic work by established artists and designers with new work from up-and-coming artists and designers. And it doesn’t hurt to start with a great space that inspires you.
RESOURCES
More detailed information can be found in House Tour's image captions
• Coffee Table, entrance hooks, and emotives by DavidZachary.net
• Eva Zeisel
• Soft Desk Clock by Giovanni Pellone
• XYZ Dining Table by Evan Dublin
• Buoy Chair by Evan Dewhirst
• Cardboard bottle dispenser/wine rack by Anthony Caradonna
• Scrapile Table by Scrapile
Images: Jill Slater
• HOUSE TOUR ARCHIVE Check out past house tours here
• Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.





Shaw's Original Fir...
I love the look of this place. Lots of creativity and thought went into this. Fantastic!
awesome bathroom. I also like your art on the walls, the black and brown one. The garden looks like the perfect place to get away.
Layout of furniture is also well placed.
Not crazy about the cardboard chairs. I see how they are functional and perhaps eco friendly, but there are too many of them. With the pillows on them, they look uncomfortable to sit on.
The vases around the clock almost disappear, because my eye is drawn more to the little shelves than the pieces on them.
For me this looks like a place in progress. Some of art work looks like it's hung too high, like in the dining room.
What a cool and inspiring project! I really love it. Great job to Pratt and all those involved.
I'm actually not terribly impressed. It seems unfinished, and the overall space isn't cohesive. It seems like a lot of trendy modern elements all used at once without enough though about how it all makes sense in the space. I agree with Aster on the dislike of the cardboard chairs, they have always seemed gimmicky to me, fun for a dorm room, not functional for a mature space. I do like the tables in the living room, the dining table is ok but the 'decor' on top is dissapointing- I expect more from Pratt than a few semi-modern glass object centered on a placemat. The clock concept is interesting, but it has a major proportion problem- either the vases circling need to get smaller or that clock needs to get a lot bigger.
Overall, I think they need to think more about the space's visual unity, and varying it visually with more textures and varying the proportion of the furniture and accessories.
I love the Buoy Stool. I got to try it out at ICFF this year.
I've met a couple of the designers who worked on this project, they're a talented bunch.
For me, the scale is a bit off. Perhaps too many little things. That being said, each little thing is unique and quite interesting. There are a lot of really great ideas.
I really like the cardboard furniture. Although I believe it works better when used as an accent piece rather to fill a room. The cardboard pieces were done well.
I think this is absolutely hideous. I can't believe we are even discussing cardboard furniture. I can't imagine a situation in which cardboard furniture would be acceptable, unless it was a kindergarten project or something to make your own. I also hate the coffee table, and the whole place lacks originality and warmth.
I really hope no one spills anything on those cardboard chairs.
I think it's a mess. It seems like it was created by a bunch of individuals rather than a collaborative effort. I don't find the individual pieces interesting either.
Underwhelmed.
No focal point.
Some great pieces, simple and material driven-the dining table, the occasional table, leather woven bench, and some other key pieces.
But just because you throw a bunch of eco-modern pieces in one room together doesn't mean they're cohesive in a space under the single notion that they're environmentally friendly. Cardboard chairs? Isn't the message SUSTAIN-ability? The last time i checked, cardboard isn't a material celebrated for its longevity and robustness.
Over-rated and ill-thought out.
I like the humor of the intercom/talking-bubble-mirror.
How does everyone feel about all the really low furniture? I've inherited a Wegner-like(?) low-slung folding chair with leather instead of rope; I can't decide whether to put it in place of a bentwood rocker in my living room because it totally changes a seating level amid higher stuff. Thoughts?
Static rather than dynamic
There were some interesting elements, but the effect is incoherent and unfocused--perhaps inevitable given the nature of the project. I also don't understand why there's so much furniture made out of cardboard. Wouldn't reclaimed wood be a material that'd be suitably eco-conscious but more sustainable since the end result would last a lot longer than cardboard?
Ugly color scheme, no warmth, wrong scale between various objects and the green plastic bowls suspended over the stove - unlivable. They should have had a project manager in order to make the place more cohesive. It looks like a warehouse for student projects.
mm I agree woth the unfinished comments... but then again, of course! no real books or clothing or over-the-years memorabilia. fake feels fake no matter what. liked almost all the elements just wouldnt put them together like that. or not all of them in one house. still, wouldnt mind the garden :)
There are some really inspiring ideas shown. I enjoyed the tour. It does seem more like a design "concept store" than a home. Whether that's a good or bad thing depends on the goal of the project I guess.
Cardboard can be surprisingly durable. I have the Gehry Wiggle stool (couldn't afford the chair) and it holds up to kids jumping on it.
That stool looks like a butt plug. Cute.
I hate those cardboard chairs though. Interesting concept but I mean... Use one as an accent. But would've been nice to see a neat chair made out of something else. And then different dining chairs.
I love that weaved leather bench.
The garden is super cute.
The bathroom is heaven.
Kitchen is pretty nice but a bit bland.
Interesting concept though. I would be excited to walk through it.
Clearly, no one actually lives in the space. This was just ok. I'm not crazy about the cardboard chairs. It just seems silly. But the cardboard wine rack was interesting. Some of the art does seem as though it's hung to high to be appreciated. I thought the message board over the intercom was cute and I also so liked the pieces surrounding the clock. I can see doing that and just changing out the pieces when I got board.
i'm surprised by the level of criticism, esp compared with other house tours comments. also confused by comments about clocks and lack of cohesiveness. am i missing something or are there only 7 photos and none with a message board/intercom, clock, or garden. i don't love cardboard but i only see 2 chairs and a wine rack, which isn't overwhelming to me.
sounds like a bunch of people who are hypercritical of pratt (undergrads??) rather than impressed that a model home (which is of course fake) could be furnished entirely with stuff made by pratt people.
anyway, from what can be seen here, it looks incredible to me. the living room is cozy and i like the tile in the kitchen.