Plaza Street Apartment, Brooklyn, NY

The project is the gut renovation of an apartment in a landmark 1928 building designed by the esteemed architect Rosario Candela. The building sits on a triangular site where the ellipse of Grand Army Plaza meets the Brooklyn street grid. Its narrow prow is an outer boroughs echo of the Flatiron Building.

The thin triangular shape of the apartment created opportunities and challenges.  The space is flooded with daylight and enjoys ever-changing views of the surrounding cityscape.  At the same time, the unusual shape and the clients’ programmatic requirements led to an intense design process where a multitude of options were studied.  The final plan emphasizes long axial views and the careful deployment of service spaces to ease geometric transitions. The deliberately subtle design language of the renovation creates a dialogue with the traditional sash windows and beamed ceilings that are pre-war New York apartment signatures. The bright white walls and pale white oak floors are consistent throughout, and give breathing space to the clients’ collection of African art, contemporary art, and mid-century furniture.  

Ad egg-shaped light cove hovers above the entry foyer as a gentle echo of the shape of Grand Army Plaza, creating an iconic transition from the outside world to the dreamy atmosphere of the apartment.

Photographs: Julian Wass
Styling: Carin Scheve
Project Team: Navajeet Khatri, Vrinda Khanna, Robert Schultz
General Contractor: Albenga Construction
MEP Engineering: On Point Engineering
Custom Fabrications:  Karen Atta, Juan Alfaro, Tony Sandkamp