Chelsea, New York City

Site Size: 112' x 22'

Project Size: 2,545 square feet (primary residence); 3,500 square feet (rental apartments on upper floors)

Program: The client of this renovated pre-war townhouse on an historic block in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood requested the house contain a garden-level duplex for himself and a duplex apartment for rent on the upper two floors.

Solution: In the owner’s duplex, the architect separated public and private spaces. A new master bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor are fitted with custom 20-foot-wide glass sliding doors leading to the garden. The kitchen and adjacent deck were re-located to the parlor level, while the main entry leads to a living room with elaborate molding.

Structure and Materials: The rear elevation of this steel and concrete slab house is clad in stucco-coated or painted brick. (The street façade is traditional brownstone.) The materials for the garden, such as fieldstone walls, were exclusively salvaged and re-used. Inside, bamboo flooring, frosted glass and tile, and white marble for a custom sink contrasts with the dark mahogany cabinetry and teak.  

People

Location:
Chelsea, New York City

Completion Date:
June 2012

Total construction cost:
Withheld at owner’s request

Owner:
Withheld

Architect:
Julian King Architect
304 Hudson Street, 6th flr
New York, NY 10013
(p) 917 288 9849  

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:
Julian King, AIA LEED AP (project architect) 

Interior designer:
Julian King Architect

Engineer(s):
Alnour Consulting Engineering PC
Brooklyn NY 11228
917 379 9376

Consultant(s):
Landscape:
Miguel Pons Landscaping
MAPons2010@aol.com
212 255 6310

Mechanical:
AltieriSeborWiebor
Consulting Engineers
Norwalk, CT 06851
203 866 5538

General contractor:
New York Interior Construction
www.nyiconst.com

Photographer(s):
All photos by Julian King Architect

DWR

CAD system, project management, or other software used:
AutoCAD 2012

 

Products

Structural system
Steel frame, composite concrete slab

Manufacturer of any structural components unique to this project:
AJB Builders & Company Inc. (custom steel components)

Exterior
Wood deck and treads:
Siena Woodworks
11 Clearview Drive
Long Valley NJ 07853
sienawoodworks@optonline.net

Stucco: 3-coat stucco with Thoroseal

Roofing
Elastomeric:
Grace (membrane under decking)

Flashing:
CCR Sheet Metal Inc.

Doors
Custom Sliding glass doors:
Fleetwood Doors and Windows
sales@fleetwoodusa.com
800 736 7363

Interior doors:
slidingdoorco.com

Hardware
Knob and Latchsets:
Omnia, Rejuvenation, Colonial Bronze Co. (offset pivots), Thomas Hoof Produkt, Rejuvenation

Pulls:
Custom by Julian King Architect

Interior finishes
Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: 
Siena Woodworks
11 Clearview Drive
Long Valley NJ 07853
sienawoodworks@optonline.net

Paints and stains:
Benjamin Moore

Solid surfaces:
ABC stone (custom solid marble sink in master bathroom, powder room, and kitchen countertops)
info@abcworldwidestone.com

Floor and wall tile:
Nemo Tile (glass tile in shower, stone tile on
Powder room floor, limestone tile in guest bathroom)

Wood flooring:
Plyboo (bamboo strip flooring in master bedroom)
info@plyboo.com

Carpet:
ABC carpet, NYC (hallway)
212 463 3000

Concrete flooring:
Concrete Shop
info@concrete-shop.com
917 609 5187

Special interior finishes unique to this project:
Plaster Crown Molding:
Architectural Sculpture and Restoration
www.asrnyc.com

Waterproof plaster:
www.merlex.com

Custom powder coating: A&D Screen Process
adscreens@aol.com

Furnishings
Chairs:
Poul Kjaerholm (wicker), Molteni (dining room),
Hans Wegner (bedroom)

Tables: Molteni, Saarinen

Sofa: Vitra

Lighting
Cove lighting:
Nippo seamlessline (kitchen)
Dana light LED (powder room)

Downlights:
Xenon, Lightology, Con-tech lighting

Task lighting/Pendants:
Puk lights, Moooi Random Light (pendants)

Exterior:
Kurt Versen, ELP

Dimming System:
Lutron

Audio Visual:
B&W speakers

Plumbing
Custom slot drain:
Slot Drain Systems Ltd.
www.slotdrainsystems.com
403 590 1624

Energy
HVAC system
High efficiency cooling unit with matching fan coil with electric heater (Carrier) and electric radiant heating imbedded in concrete topping to augment existing steam heat.

Other unique products that contribute to sustainability:
Re-used brick from demolished rear elevation and interior brick wall for exterior patio pavers
Re-used/re-located interior etched glass pocket doors (cut down to be used as swing doors)
Re-used/re-located period grilles