Capsule Loft

The challenge posed by the design of this 2500 SF West Village apartment was to accommodate a second level for bedrooms while maintaining the architectural integrity of the industrial loft characterized by exposed concrete beams and tall south-west corner windows that offer natural light and panoramic views of the Hudson River. We inserted a cantilevered wood-clad volume, the Sleeping Capsule, that houses a master bedroom suite and a guest room that leaves the perimeter windows unobstructed. This floating volume is both a striking sculptural presence as well as an element whose faceted shape defines a series of linked double height spaces—entry hall, media-home office, circulation path and living room—that wrap the south and west edges of the loft. A black oak stair core intersects the Sleeping Capsule, subdividing the space beneath it into two zones, a kitchen/dining area and a den. The perimeter of the loft is lined with storage closets along the north and east walls, and built-in cabinets beneath the windows.