Water Tower Flat

This gut renovation of a 3,200 square foot apartment from the 1970s has been a collaboration with Alexis Bednyak Design. The project illustrates the potential of architecture enriching interior design and vice versa. The existing apartment presented two extreme conditions. First, the perimeter of the space is flooded with light from oversized east and south facing unobstructed windows. Second, the deep floor plate and room layout resulted in an exceptionally long, dark, claustrophobic main corridor cluttered with a variety of doors and ceiling heights. Redefining this hallway was task number one. First, the ceiling was raised wherever possible. LED fixtures hidden within coves illuminate the ceiling and in turn make the entire space glow. The same number of doors remain but they have been stripped of all trim and set flush with the walls. Absent of nonessential visual clutter, the defining characteristic of the hall now is the play of light and shadow. What once was the weakest aspect of the apartment has become its glowing core. The material palette of the apartment is a restrained combination of plainsawn white oak in natural, gray, and black open grain finishes; unlacquered brass; oxidized steel; matte black hardware; and various strongly veined stone slabs. Within the main rooms, crisp white walls stand in distinct contrast to accent elements in the palest of grays. The abundance in light also serves to highlight not only the mixture of colors and materials but the contrast in textures of the various elements which aim for an ideal balance of opulence, comfort and simplicity.