Located in a landmarked section of Dumbo Brooklyn, our clients acquired a 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom corner penthouse apartment on the top two floors of a 7-story building that had just been converted from a 1904 factory building. The biggest feature of the apartment was the large wrap-around terrace with sunset views of the Manhattan Bridge.
Conceptually approaching both interior and exterior as Landscape, materiality and texture were the primary tools of design, used to define zones for living. Finishes and furniture were selected to unify interior with exterior spaces. The design for the interior centered on a biophilic approach, aiming to connect the interior and exterior environments through a palette of materials evocative of nature. Inspired by processes like erosion, deposition, and geologic metamorphism, we aimed to create a sense of dynamic tranquility. A foundational element is the smooth gray stone flooring that extends from the active indoor spaces out onto the active terrace spaces. Similarly, for the more private outdoor spaces ipe decking defines the area outside the bedrooms where wood flooring is used on the interior.
Plantings were used as components of the design in both interior and exterior spaces. Potted plants placed inside and outside of large areas of glazing serve to blend between the two environments and foreground views from the interior. The exterior potted plants also shade the glazing which helps improve comfort level by lowering the cooling load during the summer. Along the perimeter of the terrace, a coordinated mixture of evergreen and deciduous plantings were selected to create privacy and shelter for some areas, while defining views in others.
Images of the interior design appear on the Dumbo Penthouse page.