Inside Light / New York
Private Client   
Residential Renovation
2013 / 2,000 sq. ft. 

Inside Light is a renovation of a three-bedroom apartment in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City. As with many New York residential buildings, the deep floor plate results in a layout with well-lit spaces on the perimeter but dark spaces at the center. This darkened middle is usually reserved for utilitarian and enclosed spaces, such as kitchens, but the owners, being passionate social entertainers, desired an open kitchen, immersed in sunlight. 







The solution was to invert the traditional New York City floor plan, using natural light and transparencies to create a bright and active central space. Mirrored surfaces placed along the walls were carefully calibrated to reflect daylight, from the front and rear windows, deep into the interior. Partitions of translucent glass enable light to flow through the space uninterrupted. The mirrors and glass walls also preserve and generate visual sightlines, improving connections between spaces and promoting well-being.
The centerpiece of the loft is a faceted wood cube — containing cabinets and the fireplace — whose angular geometry and inset mirrored panels also reflect light into the kitchen. This abundance of natural light, along with the open views, resulted in an interior atmosphere that feels airy and spacious; an unusual quality in a New York City apartment.


Press:
Design Milk, Online (March 2014)

Project Team: Phu Hoang, Rachely Rotem, Pratyusha Viddam

Credits: Naho Kubota (Photography)