UPPER WEST SIDE PENTHOUSE
NEW YORK, NY

Perched at the top of upper west side Manhattan skyline, this duplex penthouse’s sweeping panoramic views of the Hudson River and Palisades are beautifully framed through the restored 1930’s steel casement windows.  The inspiration from these windows became a featured design element in this carefully tailored renovation.  Custom-fabricated steel doors, with rice-paper art glass for privacy, were used throughout the upper level master bedroom suite and the library, allowing the vast amount of light to penetrate the interior spaces.  

Where there was once a dark and cramped entry, there is now an open, light-filled space, more appropriately scaled to the apartment, with a sculptural plaster stair leading into a generous foyer and expansive views beyond.  The stair, as well as the curved plaster walls repeated throughout the apartment, are a refined, modern reflection of the art deco period of the building.  The existing galley kitchen was expanded and reorganized to maximize the use of the space and a breakfast nook was added, taking advantage of the views to the river.

A particular challenge was the addition of central air conditioning throughout the apartment.  By dividing the high-efficiency system into multiple smaller zones, Andrade Architecture was able to conceal the equipment in closets and ceilings, with minimal sacrifice to usable square-footage.  This, along with creating small soffits in rhythm with the existing beams, kept the mechanical systems out of sight and in harmony with the space.