A New York-based design practice, Raad Studio, has merged and overhauled two separate units into a single, expansive residence, centering the design around a prominent arched wall.
Bare masonry walls and a row of blackened steel archways traverse 110 Franklin Street, a family dwelling set in Lower Manhattan's Tribeca district.
Operating out of the neighbourhood, Raad Studio had earlier crafted a residence for the same clients, who subsequently came across this property as their household expanded.
"Beyond developing a close friendship, we considered Joon and Arum exceptional partners in the design process, with whom we shared a visual sensibility," remarked James Ramsey, who launched Raad Studio back in 2014.
Originally, the five-bedroom unit consisted of twin lofts split by a masonry partition. The firm united the two spaces and preserved the standing wall to fashion a fresh, more spacious home spanning 4,000 square feet (roughly 1,219 square metres).
"Upon closer inspection, we determined that the brick partition halving the floor was actually a sequence of brick arches," the studio noted.
These archways shape the organisation of the interior. Every opening is outfitted with bespoke blackened steel doors, opening onto a succession of chambers branching off a central living zone.
The retained brick partition separates the dwelling into social and private zones, with an open-concept kitchen and dining space on one flank, and sleeping quarters on the opposite. Pale-stained timber flooring and crisp white walls cover much of the interior.
Stepping out of an elevator leads to an entry hall featuring a poured concrete floor, an assortment of greenery, and a generously proportioned daybed that funnels guests toward the primary living areas.
A generous dining surface is crafted from a hefty timber slab stretching 18 feet (around 5.5 metres) in length, encircled by a dozen white Wishbone Chairs conceived by Danish designer Hans J Wegner.
A semi-open kitchen and breakfast alcove are clad in classic white subway tiles, open shelving, charcoal cabinetry, and concrete flooring. At the far end, a sitting area mirrors these elements with built-in floating shelves, framed by a stretch of glazing.
The various rooms tucked behind the archways encompass a media lounge with a sprawling white U-shaped sofa, a playroom, and a generous primary bedroom suite.
"The areas beyond the arches offered an enjoyable method for weaving a spirit of intrigue and exploration into the layout," explained Raad Studio. "This allowed us to amplify the feeling of grandeur by contrasting intimate, snug rooms with the cavernous central area."
Three additional bedrooms, one of which doubles as a study, are also positioned beyond the exposed brick partition. Every one boasts its own en-suite bathroom, while a laundry area and an extra powder room close to the entry complete the layout.
Tribeca stands for Triangle Below Canal Street, and sits just to the north of the World Trade Center site.
The neighbourhood has emerged as a fashionable enclave for well-heeled inhabitants, in residences such as a converted loft featuring exposed steel columns by Office of Architecture, a whitewashed duplex organised around storage solutions by Space4Architecture, and yet another expanded dwelling crowned with a glazed angular rooftop volume by WORKac.
Images were captured by Robert Wright.
