We are turning the clock back on this apartment building on West 92nd Street in Manhattan, New York. The classic Manhattan townhouse, which currently hosts five separate apartments, will soon be gutted and restored as a single home – but with a twist.  

Whilst the house will certainly become primarily a home to its owner and their family, it will also act as a functioning gallery for the Owners international art collection.

Our client is well known for their role in creating large art shows in New York and across the globe.   The challenge of this program is to combine the historic elements of the existing structure with the contemporary art work seamlessly with the everyday comforts of residential living.  

Our design will see an improved flow and circulation of the home, seamlessly linking each room and each floor to the next with a cohesive set of themes. The finished piece will see an elegant integration of daily living and work, as the home and gallery spaces are weaved harmoniously together in aesthetic and functionality.

This 8,500 sq ft house will not only house and showcase work from world renowned artists, whose pieces will be displayed gallery-style – it will also use their art in its very design, incorporating several commissioned elements from thriving artists in its interior, from designs to sculptures.

At VAKOTA we are in the early stages of schematic design for this $3.5million  renovation, which will see a full structural change of the building as well as interior remodelling and design. Across the five floors we will be creating two bedroom suites, as well as installing several new purpose-built rooms – from a new kitchen, to a music room, to a grand parlor. Each room will combine the historic elements of the building with modern design.  

Perhaps the most technically challenging of the new rooms is the library. To be built on the third floor, the double-height library will require a significant amount of structural work as we knock two stories into one to create this breath-taking new interior structure.

To the apex of the house, we are working on a rooftop garden, which will be covered by a glass domed roof so that it can be enjoyed all year round. This relaxing utopia will be named the ‘Skyroom’.

This is a hugely unique and exciting project to be a part of, and we hope to create an end result that will echo the artful beauty of the works showcased within its walls. To take such a creative and challenging brief is always a thrill – but particularly when it is one which looks to combine history, modernity and art with the personality of a very unique family. As architects we always hope for projects and briefs like this one, which challenge us to innovate and create something truly special and memorable.

Construction on this project is due to begin in November 2020, with completion set to be in December 2021.