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Brooklyn, New York
Built, 2016-2017
Darcy Miro
Residental Studio
600 Square Feet
Steel House is a new penthouse live-work studio designed for an artist in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Perched atop an existing townhouse by Christoff Finio Architecture, the studio and its outdoor deck offer sweeping views of nearby Fort Greene Park.
The concept for the project emerged through close collaboration with the client, whose artistic practice often involves cast metals. Drawing inspiration from the metal casting process, Steel House features a hardened, protective exterior that encases a soft, organic interior space.
The exterior is constructed from industrial hot-rolled steel plates, fastened to a steel frame spanning the load-bearing brick party walls of the existing townhouse. A large pocketing sliding door seamlessly connects the interior to the Ipe roof deck, subtly angled to frame views of the park. Adjacent to the door, vertical 2x2 steel angles are welded on-end, emphasizing the opening's significance and introducing a textured, human-scaled element to the otherwise smooth façade.
In contrast to the robust steel exterior, the interior is defined by faceted plywood panels and illuminated by natural light streaming through concealed windows and skylights. Left raw and unadorned, both the plywood and steel materials transcend their industrial origins, creating an environment that is at once warmly domestic and spatially dynamic.
T.W. Ryan, Thomas Ryan, Brett Appel
Contractor:
Euda Construction
Photography:
T.W. Ryan