Scope
In the winter of 2002, Andy King, purchased a new loft at 215 Bowery in New York City. Andy is a well known cookbook author and event planner in New York City. His cookbook, “Quick and Easy Menus for Entertaining: Secrets of a Savvy Cook”, was published by Abbeville Press Inc. Andy has appeared on numerous local New York and regional television stations with his “Quick Tips from the King” entertainment segments. His flair for corporate event planning landed him on the front page of The Wall Street Journal, lauded as one of the most resourceful people to know. Andy is the man behind many of today’s most exclusive parties, most of which are thrown at his private residence in New York. Andy hired Approach Architects to transform the cluttered one bedroom loft at 215 Bowery Street into his new home, a home complete with a large chef’s kitchen, entertainment area to host parties, a new guest bedroom and master bedroom suite.
Our Approach
The new space is located on the corner of Rivington and Bowery, has masonry walls, concrete floors, modern curtain wall windows, and from its interior (once the translucent film covering every window is removed) has breathtaking views towards lower Manhattan. The loft at one point had been two separate one bedroom apartments and then without much thought, combined to create the current loft. Based upon the condition of the existing space and our desire to create a distinct entertainment and living environment within the new loft, we proposed that the entire interior of the space be gutted and we start from scratch.
The one thing we were unable to change was the entry door into the loft. From this entry door, we created a small foyer that was screened from the Gallery space by columns. The gallery space is the main circulation space of the loft and is used to connect the large living room with the dining room and chef’s kitchen. During the day, the walls of the gallery open up to reveal Andy’s hidden office.
In an effort to capture views and provide street visibility from below, we located the main entertainment area, the kitchen and dining room, towards the front of the space. The kitchen was designed as a large working kitchen that provided an opportunity for guests to watch their host prepare dinner. To help keep the guests out of harms way, we designed a large prep island that separated the dining area from the cooking area. Andy’s significant kitchen storage needs were handled through the construction of a large walk-in pantry that was tucked behind his new powder room which was accessible off of the gallery space.
Andy’s living room with its built-in media center, wet bar, and baby grand piano, is the perfect space to host large events. However, with its intimate conversation areas and soft seating, it is also the perfect space to relax alone or with friends. Due to Andy’s love of entertaining and his gregarious personality he tends to get a lot of surprise house guests who happen to be in town for a night. In order to accommodate these surprise guests, above his new office, powder room and guest bath, we designed three elevated sleeping berths that are hidden, yet accessible via stainless steel ladders recessed into the walls of the living room and gallery spaces.
We located Andy’s private sleeping areas furthest away from Bowery, area, This allowed us to take the quietest areas of the space that were furthest from Bowery, as our private sleeping areas. Where there had previously been a kitchen, bedroom, and full bath, we designed a new common bath with concrete shower, guest bedroom, laundry area, and master suite. The master suite boasted a large bedroom, walk-in closet, bath with soaking tub, wall mounted lava stone sink and counter, and water closet.