The Commute Reimagined: A rigorous separation of art and life anchored by history.

This project redefines the concept of "working from home" by transforming a mixed-use building into a dual-zone compound. The brief required a definitive psychological boundary between the professional and the personal. To achieve this, we designed the residence with a dedicated exterior entrance, forcing a ritualistic "commute"—one must physically leave the workspace to return home.

The ground floor is dedicated to production: a vast, collaborative art studio and office space. In contrast, the top floor serves as a quiet residential sanctuary. While the ambiance of these two worlds is distinct, they are physically grounded by a singular material narrative: reclaimed white oak flooring salvaged from historic New York factories, running continuously through both levels.

The residential layout was completely inverted. We relocated the custom kitchen, fabricated as part of the full general contracting by Grandeur Hills Group, to the architectural core, orienting it to face the natural light, which freed the living and dining areas to occupy the brightest perimeters. To illuminate the central hallway, we engineered a transom window that borrows daylight from the original stairwell skylight.

The private quarters feature expansive new casement windows and bespoke millwork. The bathrooms act as a study in contrast using tiles from Mutina: the primary ensuite is a moody, industrial volume in a monochromatic black palette, while the children’s bath features a playful, multicolored subway tile scheme. Though stylistically opposed, both rooms are bound together by a shared overhead skylight. The home is finished with integrated LED cove lighting, washing the sanctuary space in a warm, diffused glow.