.jpg)
This is not exactly a cozy home but its brutalist
strength fits an old Manhattan warehouse well.
The Inverted Warehouse Townhouse has received
numerous U.S. awards. It is the creation of Dean-Wolf Architects of New York,
where architect Charles Wolf and designer Eunjeong Seong were in charge of the
project.
We like the visible stairs that create a sense of
lift and movement upward. We like the large surfaces of brick, steel and glass.
We like the visibility between floors and from space to space that solves the
potential problem of dark boxy rooms inside a windowless warehouse.
It is an impressive conversion of a loft (of 10,500
square feet) within a vast warehouse that covers the entire lot, leaving no
room for outside space, garden or patio.
The main achievements of Dean-Wolf's work are cutting
the roof open to let the natural light in and then using glass panels to let it
shine into the dark centre of the expansive structure.
By doing this, they also created "outdoor"
space inside, making the residence feel like it has a courtyard. They also
created a large garden deck off the main living room.
To open up the key areas of the residence to this
natural light, the main entry, via an elevator, is now on the fifth floor where
public spaces and the bedrooms, playrooms and study are located. In a more
typical townhouse, this "parlor" floor would be accessed through the
front steps of the building. - Tuija Seipell
