In a landmarked turn of the century beaux-art gem a young couple with a growing family commissioned an extraordinary project—to create a townhouse within an apartment building. Combining their existing duplex with the floor beneath posed countless challenges: from physically connecting the floors and creating an unified home, to restoration and improvement of many of the aging features—as the impressive casement windows—, to incorporating new architectural elements and blending seamlessly contemporary and classic characteristics.
A spiraling staircase became the heart of this newly combined triplex apartment. Designed almost as a sculpture winding through the 3 floors, the compound curves stair was constructed in sections in the Bronx then dismantled and re-assembled on site. The apartment was gutted in its entirety and new architectural elements were constructed to maximize the scale and create a sense of grandeur—limestone floors at the main entrance foyers, eight foot tall ebonized wood doors and new limestone mantels for the living room. The original details of the duplex—millwork, trims, materials and finishes were meticulously restored and replicated to extend into the new areas.
