The challenge posed by the design of this 1,000 square foot Chelsea loft was to create a flexible living space that accommodated our client’s storage and programmatic needs while maintaining a sense of spatial openness.
Storage Walls: Rather than create a series of traditional contained rooms, three rectangular storage walls subdivide the linear loft into five parallel multi-purpose activity zones: living, dining/office/guest, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Inspired by the serial minimalist sculptures of Donald Judd, the three storage walls are conceived of as a series of rectangular abstract volumes clad in black oak paneling that match the black oak stained floors. Each of the walls disappears into ceiling coves illuminated by LEDs.
View Corridors: The freestanding walls are placed perpendicular to but never intersect the two east west sidewalls that define the length of the loft. They define two slots of space, a circulation corridor and a viewing slot that passes from the living room, through the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. They allow uninterrupted views from one end of the apartment to the other.
Live/Work : The north wall that runs the entire length of the loft behaves as a multi-purpose element. It is clad with oak doors that can be opened to reveal a home office and a Murphy bed, transforming the front half of the loft into a multi-purpose live/work area.