Paul Cha Architect

Oct 2013

The California Closets showroom is located in New York vibrant Tribeca, an acronym for "Triangle Below Canal". The neighborhood is composed of early 20th century industrial warehouse buildings, with commercial retail stores below, and loft-like artist/residential spaces above. With cobblestone streets and unique urban scales, Tribeca is going through a revitalization after the events of 9/11. The program calls for demonstrating how California Closet's new product line can be tailored towards Tribeca's specific residential requirements from the compressed rooms of recent apartment construction, to the expansiveness of converted loft in warehouse spaces. The design strategy is to insert various scale geometric volumes within the given building envelope, showcasing California Closets products in a museum like setting. Three delicate cubical closet pavilions are located at the ground level's perimeter, while the central glass/steel staircase leading up to the mezzanine punctuates the two story cylindrical volume, capped by a circular chandelier with vertical lighting tubes with mirroring circular stone tile below. The mezzanine level showcases the California Closets' intimate bedroom furnishings, and a series of floating walls/intersecting floors provide continuous spatial overflow while providing an overlook of closet pavilions below. A separate rear staircase leads to the office/design studio in the basement. The precise construction & careful detailing further enhance the loft-like openness. Standard gypsum wall construction is combined with steel/glass staircase & wall openings, while subdued wood/stone/carpet color palette creates a tranquil spatial atmosphere. As the natural sunlight engages the showroom activities during the daytime, at night time the mahogany chandelier cast a spherical warm glow over the pavilions, showcasing California Closets for chic New Yorkers passing by, and acting as a reference point for the bustling Tribeca neighborhood.

New York, NY

Jan 2011

The program calls for a re-usable pop-up shop for a new jewelry line, Lucet Mundi, to be executed with tight construction budget & schedule. The idea is that of a gift wrapped precious geometric gem faced with display cabinetry, to be perceived as a glowing object from a distance, yet inviting & personal at a more intimate scale. Unfinished laminated plywood hexagon display cabinet was used for its inherent structural strength, as well as construction efficiency. The pink glass radiates a warm glow over the jewelry display behind, and the black gift ribbons exemplify the romance of gift giving.

New York, NY

Jan 2011

New York pied-a-terre for a young couple with kids.

New York, NY

Oct 2010

A 10,000 sq.ft. artist studio for art production, curating, storage & exhibition of a young contemporary artist. The raw warehouse space is located next to Hudson River amidst the hipster neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY. A 2 story cubical new construction is inserted under the 2 new skylights above. All art productions, from delivery, sculpting, printing, painting, photographing, cataloguing to exhibition evolves around the new cubical insertion.

Brooklyn, NY

Oct 2010

A 10,000 sq.ft. artist studio for art production, curating, storage & exhibition of a young contemporary artist. The raw warehouse space is located next to Hudson River amidst the hipster neighborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY. A 2 story cubical new construction is inserted under the 2 new skylights above. All art productions, from delivery, sculpting, printing, painting, photographing, cataloguing to exhibition evolves around the new cubical insertion.

Brooklyn, NY

Jan 2010

A converted SoHo loft, measuring 10,000 sf in three floors, is adapted for the private residence of a young hedge fund manager. The fourth and fifth floor are designed to act as a quiet refuge from the chaotic workload and frequent overseas travel, as well as to provide and elegant space for the entertaining and private realm of a young family. The third floor is designed to accommodate visiting family and guests. In this manner, the architectural intervention enables the loft to transform from a quiet retreat, into a welcoming social surrounding, that reflects the excitement of its SoHo context. The design of the loft explores the modernist use of plane/volume and opaque/transparent, with the interplay of different materials. The strategy adopted, is that of a contemporary architectural intervention within an pre-existing envelope. Movements, spaces and volumes occur to fulfill various functional requirements through the architectural manipulation of materials, details and finishes. Two equal halves performing public and private functions are employed throughout horizontally and vertically. The public fifth floor rests upon the private fourth floor, and the third floor's public front versus the private rear. The public functions are delineated by the interplay of planes : the walls and floors, while the private functions are defined by volumes encased by intersecting solid walls. The solid cherry wall and two story high bookcase and the delicate staircase enclosing these private functions, are punctured by high windows and pre-existing skylights, allowing light to penetrate while preserving a sense of serene calmness.

New York City, NY

Aug 2008

The 1,020 square foot loft is located in a 1930's Classical Egyptian- Revival style theater, which was converted to residential lofts in the 1980's. The Lincoln Center neighborhood is composed of high rise residential and commercial buildings, along with shops and restaurants. The investment banker client requested a comforting environment and a resting place from her high pressure profession. After studying the existing cube like volume and the client's program requirements, the loft is divided into eight quadrants- two layers of four quadrant squares laid on top of each other. The "Resting" realm, which is composed of Living room and Bedroom, shall be two layers of one quadrant each. The "Service" realm, which is composed of Kitchen, Closet Hall/Bath, shall be the lower quadrant each, while the mezzanine loft space occupies the upper two quadrants. The staircase at Entry not only connects the two floors, but it also serves as a screen between Entry and Kitchen, since the stair treads transform into open shelves serving the Kitchen. To accentuate the volumetric expansiveness within the tight volume, diagonal visual connections are emphasized throughout the spatial progression. The sense of spatial continuity is also reinforced by the dissolution of wall enclosures into floating planes, executed not only in gypsum walls, but also stone tiles, stone slabs, maple shelves, and milk glass with mahogany frames. To create a custom tailored look while working within the given budget and strict time line, careful considerations were given to maximize off the shelf items when possible, while minimal site coordination among trades are required during the construction process. The end result is like an intricate music box, with interconnecting volumes and planes, which creates a calming spatial sensation and welcomes the client as she returns from the chaotic city outside.

New York, NY

Jan 2008

Located in the bustling Union Square area, the 2500 SF trapezoid shaped loft is housed in a former department store, with original cast iron columns and tin ceilings. The client, an educational consultant, requested a tranquil residence for daily living as well as receiving frequent guests. The strategy adopted was to insert a modern intervention, clad in wood panels, operable sliding glass windows and wood louvers, into the center and thus creating a public front for the private back. The Living Room and Study are located at the front, facing the street, while the Guest Bath, Master Bedroom and Master Bath are located at the back. Connecting the public and private realms is the Kitchen and Dining Area, which acts as a transitional space, as well as the loft's focal point. Materiality, texture and coloration are orchestrated to further articulate the architectural design intention. The natural grain of the quartered ash with vertical/horizontal veneer paired with the soft porcelain tile contrasts the cool precision of stainless steel appliances and satin nickel fixtures. The interior decoration further enhances the calm tranquility of the loft with carefully selected and placed furnishings. The result is a spacious yet intimate residence, overlooking the excitement of Union Square below, yet reflecting the cultured serenity of the owner above. Video narrative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qplXShLXlqA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9t7nY-c-7g

New York, NY

Jan 2008

Located in historic Hudson Valley, the four acre site is situated in southern Columbia County, bordering Duchess County to the south. Two hours north of New York City, following the Taconic State Parkway through a picturesque countryside highlighted by orchards, horse farms and vineyards, the site is eventually accessed through Moore Road by a private driveway. Situated on top of a gentle slope overlooking a pond, the house is surrounded by dense vegetation to the south and north, while commanding a vineyard view to the east, and a view of the distant Black Dome Mountain to the west. The 2,000 square foot house is designed as a weekend retreat from hectic city life, as well as, for entertaining friends and enjoying the nature and the countryside surrounding it. After studying the programmatic, functional, and budgetary requirements, the proposal formed the plan for a hybrid of the New England Salt Box typology: a 50'L X 20'W X 25'H rectangular box with 11' high public spaces on first floor and 9' high private rooms on second floor. In accordance with the local ground conditions and building tradition, the construction consists of concrete foundation/footings, supporting a wood framed enclosure with spatial layouts based upon standard modular construction dimensions. Attention to human scale and material detailing is integral to the design throughout the house, as evident in the spatial proportions of public spaces and private rooms, along with detailing ranging from corner windows to concealed cabinetry. Similar in spirit to Shaker houses built in the Hudson Valley, in years long past, the house's functional and contemplative character can be seen as a modern reinterpretation of house on the prairie. Video narrative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y58JIJ9Cog

Germantown, NY