Nestled in a cozy enclave away from the city’s hustle-and-bustle, the Sutton Place Penthouse offers spectacular views of the NYC skyline from its wrap-around terrace. This two-bed, two-bath penthouse apartment with a wrap-around terrace boasts stunning views of the city skyline and the East River. For this 2,360 sq ft residential architecture and interiors project, Studioteka renovated the penthouse kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms and designed custom millwork for the space.

The team designed and incorporated bespoke floor-to-ceiling bunk beds which were inserted into a niche that had previously housed a wall of closets. This guest bedroom piece has dedicated reading lights and integrated cubbies for book and blanket storage easily accessible from the bunks.  In the entry hallway, a wall of closets and storage was completely gutted and redone with new custom doors and a niche for one of the client’s beloved antique furniture pieces.  A built-in wall of cubbies and vertical storage holds the client’s ceramics and artwork bringing the modern farmhouse-style kitchen to life. This material theme of white millwork and neutral stone is carried into the primary bathroom. The elegant art and antique pieces seen throughout the apartment are accentuated with newly installed recessed lighting, new Canadian wide-plank flooring throughout, new windows, and an exterior glass door leading from the living room to the terrace beyond.

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Located in the West Village, this three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath pied-à-terre incorporates mid-century modern elements, including soft grays, subtle textures, punchy metals, and natural wood finishes. Throughout the open living, dining, kitchen, and bedroom spaces are bespoke red oak shutters that allow for changes in natural lighting conditions and views. Lower panels with operable louvers can be closed for privacy, while the upper ones can stay open, allowing natural light to permeate throughout. Louis Poulsen recessed fixtures were placed in newly installed soffits along the beams of the historic barrel-vaulted ceiling, creating soft and beautiful lighting effects within the space. Two custom built-ins were designed for the living room and dining area: both with painted-white wainscoting details to complement the white walls, forest green accents, and the warmth of the herringbone-patterned white oak floors. The custom bookcase was designed to accommodate a sofa and original artwork in the living room. LED lighting and two decorative sconces were integrated into the unit’s display shelving, highlighting the reading nook and decor. The dining room has a custom television console. The TV is flush-mounted into a fabric scrim with storage cabinetry below. In the kitchen, an antique set of copper light fixtures were placed above the marble island, complementing and illuminating the intricate metal details and stone countertops. This elegant project was the result of a wonderful collaboration between the client, Studioteka, Ideas Dec, Fine Artisan Furnishings, and Tumen Construction.

The image above shows the before and after state of the kitchen in Riverside Drive Apartment, a 2,000 sf apartment we gut renovated in Washington Heights. What a transformation! The original kitchen was fragmented and narrow, and there was no direct connection to the dining room. We opened a doorway between the two spaces which also had the added benefit of adding more light to the room. We then reconfigured the kitchen, adding a breakfast nook and all new appliances which included a washing machine, dishwasher, microwave with integrated range hood and a chef’s range for the client’s many dinner parties!

The photos above show the kitchen before, on the left, and the kitchen transformed on the right. A long stone countertop with neutral tile backsplash runs the length of the kitchen with white cabinetry with inset glass, creating the perfect space for cooking with plenty of area for both storage and prep work. The new dishwasher and washer/dryer are tucked under the counter and seamlessly integrated into the space of this beautiful new kitchen.

The photo above on the left shows the bathroom in our Riverside Drive Apartment project before the renovation, and the two on the right show the same space after. The original bathroom was very tight and cramped, and light didn’t enter the space because of a wall that separated the toilet, sink and vanity from the shower. Studioteka replaced the full height plumbing wall with a lower one, and put a glass divider between the shower and the new sink, allowing light to pass into the rest of the space from the window.

The two photos above on the left show the original bathroom, and the larger image on the right shows the new renovated space with new vessel sink, stone vanity top, and glass shower wall  in more detail. All new plumbing fixtures and clean white wall and floor tile were also installed to completely upgrade and update the space. See more about this project here!

The kitchen in this unit in the East Village Microapartments project was awkwardly laid out, with a bathroom and standing shower located in a room that separated the sink and stove from the refrigerator and counter space. The addition of a diagonal wall allowed us to enclose the window to the fire escape inside a new, ADA adaptable bathroom with stacked washer/dryer, while making a kitchen layout that has everything at the tenant’s fingertips.

This photo clearly shows the awkwardness of the original layout. The stove was right next to the entry door, and the toilet was across from the refrigerator. Prep space and cooking space were diagonally opposite one another, making for difficulty in preparing meals, and the unit, in addition to needing an upgrade in terms of appliances, lacked a dishwasher and microwave. On the right you can see the transformation to sleek, upgraded appliances, the microwave has an integrated range hood, the cabinets are all solid wood and custom made, and the new layout is a very functional one for a kitchen where every bit of space counts!

The photo on the left above shows the kitchen before, and the two on the left are after. We removed the walls which divided the space, opening it up, while still allowing for a very functional layout for cabinetry, drawers and appliances.

This unit in the East Village Microapartments project was in terrible disrepair, having been inhabited by a hoarder. You can clearly see that from the two before pictures on the left! The original configuration of the kitchen, located along the short wall with an L shape, and bathroom, with insufficient clearances around plumbing fixtures, was also not optimal. The layout didn’t allow for enough space for cooking prep or sufficient space for storage, not to mention the washer/dryer that the client wanted to install in the bathroom of this rental unit. The apartment needed to be completely gutted, and had new flooring installed throughout, as well as new windows with a larger operable area to provide adequate ventilation and space for a window air conditioner during the summer months. Our redesign also allowed for the creation of a deep closet with ample space for storage across from the new galley kitchen, in which we used completely updated appliances and the same solid wood custom cabinetry as in the first unit shown.

This photo shows the tight and sub optimal configuration of the original bathroom, not to mention the oversized sink which created a very restricted path to the toilet and tub. Our complete transformation can be seen in the two photos on the right. The first shows the new sink and mirror, with the closet that contains generous storage and space for a washer/dryer unit. The far right photo shows the space seen from the front of the apartment, with the large closet opposite the galley kitchen.

The series of photos above show the kitchen in the Riverdale house before and after our intervention. The original kitchen had not been updated since the 1960s, and was badly in need of an upgrade. The wall separating the kitchen from the dining room created a cramped, dark space which had a very awkward layout. We added all new cabinetry and appliances and relocated the gas range to the other side of the kitchen, allowing for a larger expanse of counter space for meal prep.

Here you can see the wall in the before picture that used to separate the kitchen and dining areas. By taking the wall down between the two spaces we were also able to add a large breakfast bar and open up the space considerably, bringing in more natural light from the back garden and making communication between the two spaces seamless and perfect for entertaining.We added a brand new kitchen window as well as a new door to the back garden with operable sidelights going all the way to the ground allowing the interior spaces to flood with natural light

Studioteka was asked to gut renovate a pair of apartments in two historic tenement buildings owned by a client as rental properties in the East Village. Though small in footprint at approximately 262 and 278 square feet, respectively, the units each boast well appointed kitchens complete with custom built shaker-style cabinetry and a full range of appliances including a dishwasher, 4 burner stove with oven, and a full height refrigerator with freezer, and bathrooms with stackable or combined washer/dryer units for busy downtown city dwellers. The shaker style cabinetry also has integrated finger pulls for the drawers and cabinet doors, and so requires no hardware. Our innovative client was a joy to work with, and numerous layouts and options were explored in arriving at the best possible use of the space. The angled wall in the smaller of the two units was a part of this collaborative process as it allowed us to be able to fit a stackable unit in the bathroom while ensuring that we also met ADA adaptable standards. New warm wooden flooring was installed in both units to complement the light, blond color of the cabinets which in turn contrast with the cooler stone countertop and gray wooden backsplash. The same wood for the backsplash is then used on the bathroom floor, where it provides a contrast with the simple, white subway tile, sleek silver hanging rods, and white plumbing fixtures.

Studioteka was asked to redesign an existing, 1,100 sf two bedroom apartment for a Haitian client with beautiful views overlooking Riverside Drive in Washington Heights. The project was a complete gut renovation, as the apartment had not been touched since the 1970s. Studioteka prepared construction drawings for the building’s coop board and the New York City Department of Buildings as well as coordinating the installation of new kitchen and bathroom fixtures, finishes, and appliances and new flooring throughout. An old dumbwaiter shaft in the kitchen was removed, allowing for a better flow of space and the addition of a small breakfast nook. New French doors were added between the living and dining rooms, and between the dining room and living rooms and the entry foyer, and a door was opened between the kitchen and dining areas, to create a better flow between spaces. The French doors let light pass through from the windows to the hallway, and also allow the living and dining rooms to be used in different ways, including as additional space for guests. The renovated apartment has new decorative moldings throughout, and new transom windows have been installed above the bedroom doors to allow more natural light into the hallway. The kitchen appliances were completely replaced, and a new dishwasher was also added along with a new washing machine. The kitchen’s deep brown wood flooring complements the white cabinetry with its translucent inset glass and the warm neutral tile backsplash that runs the length of the stone countertop. New recessed lighting was added in the passageway that leads to the bedrooms along with new ceiling mounted fixtures in every room, and the electrical and plumbing were fully upgraded throughout. Project Team: Vanessa Keith, Manwei Wang, Tae Hyung Kim, Yuhui Huang, Jing Hai

TBC APARTMENTS

The project is organized around a series of slots and voids, inspired by the missing teeth in the surrounding city fabric.  Empty lots in the neighborhood are being used and reappropriated in new and unorthodox ways, and have increasingly become the focus of an explosion of building in the area.  We see these spaces as the locus of opportunity, or the old making room for the new.  We bring these voids into the parking structure and apartment building as a means of introducing light and a sense of vertical connectedness to the project. In addition, by not occupying the entire site, we are able to create a connective landscape out of the resulting void space, which forms a ribbon running through the project.

A system of voids and balconies allow light and air into the building interior, while a system of ramped circulation with a translucent skin provides natural illumination to the corridor space.  Slots between the three main blocks of the building differentiate the apartment types from one another, as well as permitting light to permeate the circulation space from both sides. The passageway begins its slope at the middle duplex block, which enables the building to make the transition between the levels of grade at the top and bottom of the site.  The smaller windows on the facade are translucent panels which, when combined with larger openings, allow a more diffuse light to enter the living areas.  Living spaces are organized on an open and flexible plan, with storage and other smaller spaces forming ‘thick walls’ which act as separators.

Parking garage:

The parking structure is a mixed program building which combines parking with public meeting and assembly functions.  The roof becomes a green outdoor gathering space, and is also occupied by an enclosed multi-purpose room to be used for meetings and events. Transparency is suggested by way of both the facade treatment, as well as by the voids which wrap vertically around the facade, shifting horizontally to cut through the concrete floor plates. The voids in the parking structure, in this case, covered by grilles, echo those of the apartments, while the linear nature of the garage is echoed in the ramped landscape, which runs along the length of the site.

Landscape:

The continuous band of landscape which links the different interventions on the site, moves up to create a roof garden and gathering area on the roof of the garage.  The visual relationships between the landscape, apartment building and parking structure are heightened within these buildings by the occurrence of the voids.  The ribbon is envisioned as a connective element, a piece of public green space given back to the city.

Project Team: Vanessa Keith, Dongsuk Lee, Laura Charlton, Natalia Galvis, Beverlee Jean Baptiste, Karolin Keilbar, Elizabeth Shipley, Felix Salazar, Koby Szcepanski.

Studioteka was asked to transform a dark, and very dated kitchen and dining area for a professional couple residing in New York’s sought after Riverdale neighborhood, just a stone’s throw from Van Cortlandt Park. The couple like to cook and entertain, and wanted a space where they’d be able to host dinner parties that could also spill onto their beautiful back deck and yard. The design team removed the old kitchen cabinets and the wall which had previously separated both spaces, allowing for the creation of an oversized island that also contained cabinetry and space for a breakfast bar. Old ductwork which had been contained in the wall was rerouted, and cleverly hidden within the new island’s custom drawers and cabinetry. The gas range was relocated to the far wall, and the dishwasher was moved from the window side to the island side of the kitchen, allowing for a better kitchen workflow. New recessed and pendant lighting illuminate the space, and highlight the island. The Brazilian Bajkal Quartzite countertops provide a light contrast to the dark wood of the cabinetry below, while white subway tile and cabinets above provide openness, making the space appear larger and light filled. The kitchen window and French doors leading to the outdoor space in back were replaced, and side lights were added around the door, allowing for the creation of a new and light filled and beautiful entertainment space in the home. Status: Phase 1 completed.

This building is envisioned as a showcase of sustainable materials and systems appropriate for developing countries, and began as the subject of a Design/Build course at City College in New York.  In the Spring of 2006, a group of enthusiastic students began exploring the many possibilities of sustainable architecture and green building design in Jamaica along with professors Oisin Clancy and Vanessa Keith. Both are founding members of Inter-Build.org, the building and architecture arm of Edu-Tourism, an NGO based in Jamaica. The first phase of design was taken to Jamaica and presented to the WCJF as well as teachers and other end users, and the valuable feedback gained from this exercise was brought back to New York for further development. The current project is a revision conducted by Studioteka over the course of the past year, and features the introduction of a system of structural bamboo connections as the building’s primary structure, which is configured and oriented for passive cooling. Also included are an integrated wind turbine, graywater treatment and an alternative sustainable septic system.

Project Team: Vanessa Keith, Marcus Brooks, Laura Charlton, Gaby Rodriguez, Allison Schwartz, Ruud Van Hemert, Stijn Van Oorschot, Sebastian Weiss

Contributors: Ute Besenecker, Oisin Clancy, Harry Knoll

CCNY Design/Build Team: Mubeen Ahmad, Robert Benson, Marius Calin, Vanessa Despot, Max Driscoll, Jamie Foresta, Dylan Gould, Larry Jacquette, Hong Wen Kuang, Elizabeth Shipley, Neil Schwartz, Lisa Wan

Located in Morant Bay, Jamaica, this building has a dual function.  It has a childcare area and a skills training section, as well as an ample multipurpose area at the entry which can be used for eating, congregating, and informal gatherings in the shade. The inside and outside spaces are envisioned as areas of lively activity and play, with the different wings of the building humming with purposeful activity at different times throughout the day.

The first level, which contains the multipurpose room, a kitchen, pantry, and bathroom with two toilets and two sinks, is a generous 1,482 square feet. The second level, on which are located the childcare wing, the skills training area and small sitting area which serves as a lounge, is 1,430 square feet. The childcare area has a changing table, padded play area, lockers for storage, and space for 10 cribs, as well as a staff desk. A second bathroom is accessible from the childcare wing, and contains a bathtub, sink and toilet.

The skills training area contains a meeting table which can accommodate 10 people, as well as workstations and computers for 8 people who can use them to learn valuable workforce related skills. The small sitting area at the top of the stairs has room for a couch and an end table, and is a place of conversation or repose, enlivening the zone at the top of the stairs. The surrounding landscape has been activated by the insertion of seating which rings the trees, as well as a series of planting beds which create an informal garden atmosphere.

Studioteka was asked to provide feasibility study and design services for a high profile downtown waterfront revitalization project in Jamaica. The project involves a waterfront streetscape revitalization and the creation of an entertainment district, a new marina with luxury residential units, a new waterfront park and pier, and commercial and office space, as well as proposing improvements to area housing and the creation of small business incubators and skills training. Protecting coastal Jamaica from the potentially devastating impact of increasingly powerful storms due to climate change, as well as forging a path towards more inclusive development which considers the needs of all of the various stakeholders in the project area was an important consideration in this work, which was presented to the Prime Minister and members of government and the private sector business community.

Studioteka Project Team:

Vanessa Keith, Sangyun Lee, Soo Youn Lim, Mary Jo Schlachter, Phillip Song, Stefan Stanojevic, Youyi Wang