Turett Collaborative Architects

Mar 2014

The project located in Manhattan's Greenwich Village neighborhood was originally built in 1826 as a single family two story home and has gone through many alterations and additions throughout its history resulting in its last incarnation as a three-family three-story residence. Working closing with Good Property LLC, the developer who purchased the building and site in early 2011, plans were set in motion to return the building to its original use as a single family residence. Due to the recent annexation of the block to the adjacent landmarked historic district, the front facade was required to be preserved and restored. The painted facade was stripped to reveal the original brick facade and stone lintels. While the front facade was brought back to its former glory, the rear existing facade was removed and built anew. Vertical grained fir windows and projecting frames define masonry openings in the new and contemporary dark grey brick facade. A fourth floor addition at the roof is pulled back from the front facade to limit its exposure from the street as required by the landmarks preservation commission while concurrently being pulled back from the new rear facade creating the opportunity for exterior terrace space at both the front and the back. A very compact footprint (18'-0" x 40'-0") required creative planning of the interior space. Extensive excavation below the existing rear garden allowed for a large recreational room adjacent to ancillary mechanical spaces in the cellar lit from above by structural paver skylights at the garden level. The upper floors are defined by a simple parti, a sculptural wood and steel open-stringer, open-riser stair splits the plan in two front to back. At the parlor level, the front living room is separated from the kitchen and dining room by the stair, however its openness adds to the transparency between the spaces giving the impression of one large space. A master suite occupies the entire second floor with a large master bath located in the front half of the building and the master bedroom in the rear. A closet gallery connects the two spaces together. Two bedrooms occupy the third floor, both with en suite bathrooms and walk in closets, which are separated again by the main staircase as well as a centrally located laundry room. The fourth floor contains a guest suite with an en suite bathroom whose shower leads directly onto the rear terrace. A minibar just off the stair landing supports the large terrace located towards the front of the building. The interior finishes exhibit the developer's desire to infuse the home with a modern yet warm style. Salvaged wide plank oak is used throughout while bathroom floors and walls are faced in natural limestone, neutral porcelains, and penny tiles. Plumbing fixtures and fittings are contemporary without being antiseptic, and a millwork program inclusive of the kitchen and various built-ins throughout the home was created in collaboration with Viola Park, known for their handcrafted yet modular approach. The townhouse at 23 Downing became a thoughtfully designed contemporary oasis on a discrete and tree-lined street in the heart of New York's West Village.

New York, NY

Jan 2014

Fifty four floors high, with the Statue of Liberty, the horizon over Long Island and the whole of Central Park in view, this Manhattan penthouse architecture project offered extraordinary potential. Our clients had a vision for the space - clean design, a layout with the most panoramic views, and the celebration of a unique collection of Asian art. In this penthouse renovation, our client also faced a unique challenge. Our clients were moving to this 5,000 square foot penthouse from a suburban estate nearly four times as large, so our design needed to go beyond aesthetics to take advantage of every square inch and incorporate amenities typically found in much larger homes. Our team worked closely and collaboratively to bring this vision to life. Penthouse architecture demands unique consideration. A sense of openness and comfort are optimized not only by careful attention to layout, but also through the blending of materials and textures. New room partitions were crafted of concrete with wood-grain textures. High-gloss ceilings and lacquer panel walls extend the impact of the floor-to-ceiling windows. A glass enclosed study provides acoustic separation with no interruption of the view. Stainless steel wall insets serve as ideal displays for South Asian sculpture. To maintain the clean, unbroken lines, heightened attention to finish included camouflaged electrical outlets and concealed sound systems, detailed indirect lighting, and self-closing pocket doors. State-of-the-art audio-visual systems are concealed behind nearly invisible doors. Plentiful pantry, storage, and closet space keeps clutter to a minimum, and tucked-away amenities abound: the mirror in the master bath is two-way, concealing a television behind; the wine refrigerator and water cooler disappear behind custom cabinetry and wall panels. Kitchen cabinets are faced in back-painted glass. Other rooms feature meticulously selected and matched stone slabs, custom wood veneers, and linen wall coverings. And a final touch that only a penthouse can enjoy: skylights (with both sun-shades and black-out shades) in the foyer and den further flood the home with natural light.

New York, NY

Jan 2012

Gourmet kitchen design enables entrepreneurs vision. RESTAURANT/RETAIL / CHELSEA, NEW YORK, NY / 3,208 SQUARE FEET / WINTER 2012 Haven's Kitchen is one of TCA's commercial projects. The plan is to convert a 3-story turn-of-the century carriage house into a mixed-used establishment, including four main elements; a professional teaching kitchen, retail space, catering/bar facilities and a rooftop chicken coop, and aviary. It is kind of like the Swiss Army knife of food establishments. The building's interior has been demolished and is currently under construction. The team is racing toward a December completion. We are looking forward to eating there. As the client has stated, "it would be the perfect space to build the haven of sustainable eating." *The project was featured in the New York Times on January 12, 2012.

New York, NY

Aug 2011

The four story townhouse at 67 Charles is situated on a charming tree lined block in the heart of the original Greenwich Village Historic District. Originally constructed as one of a series of three rowhouses in 1867 by Bartlett Smith, the brownstone facade and painted wood cornice is a typical example of the French Second Empire style common to rowhouses built in that period. While the front facade has remained relatively unchanged throughout the building's history, the interior has seen several renovations throughout the years which were less than kind to its historic bones. Several historic details on the parlor level including base and crown mouldings, a ceiling medallion, and fireplace mantles throughout the house had managed to survive. These historic elements were very dear to the clients, yet they also recognized the value of contemporary space planning, details, and amenities. Their design directive to TCA was threefold: to preserve these historic elements; to create a dialogue between these preserved elements and a decidedly contemporary envelope; and to create a functioning layout complete with modern amenities that would serve the family into the future. In response, TCA created an architectural language to highlight the moments where old and new would interact. Original base and crown mouldings appear to pass through glass entry vestibules at both the garden and parlor levels. Recessed metal reveals encircle the perimeter of preserved fireplace mantles demarcating old and new. A modern chandelier is juxtaposed against a restored ceiling medallion. Door jambs lined in non-directional stainless steel discreetly celebrate the use of contemporary reveals, without diminishing the texture and finesse that the owners so cherished in the preserved original mouldings. The new home demonstrates at every scale how the old and new can complement and enhance each other.

New York, NY

Apr 2010

Designed for a single owner, this 2,400 square foot triplex apartment in a new condominium development on East 73rd Street is full of air and light. Working closely with the building architects, TCA has designed a soaring, dramatic space with double-height entry foyer and a large living room with a custom fire trough that runs along the length of the space. A unique feature of the condominium is the two-story Vals quartzite stone wall that runs along the west side of the apartment, with stones that were handpicked by the owner and architect from a remote Swiss quarry. Cantilevered built-in shelves create a table and night stand, while niches in the stone wall are reserved for the client's various toiletries. Other striking features are the stairs, made of black oxidized steel, which tie the three levels of the home together. Near the top, the steps lead to a "bridge" suspended over three stories, providing a dramatic view of the space. A clear glass box containing a full bathroom resides between the master bedroom and the study on the second level; when privacy is required, an inner layer of the glass can be activated to turn the walls opaque. On the third level, a lounge looks out onto an idyllic landscaped roof terrace and sun-deck; the ultimate escape from the city.

New York, NY

Jan 2010

The new owners of this home in Manhattan's West Village knew that gutting an historically significant townhouse would be a complex undertaking. They were admirers of Turett's townhouse renovations elsewhere in the neighborhood and brought his team on board to convert the multi-unit structure into a single-family home. Turett's team had extensive experience with Landmarks, and worked closely with preservationists to anticipate the special needs of the protected facade. TCA met with the city's Excavation Unit, city-appointed archaeologists, preservationists, Community Boards, and neighbors to bring the owner's original vision - a peaceful home on a tree-lined street - to life. Turett worked with adjacent homeowners to achieve a planted rear-yard design that satisfied all interested parties, and brought an impressive array of engineers and consultants aboard to help guarantee a safe process. Turett worked with the owners to design a light-filled house, with landscaped yard and terraces, a music parlor, a skylit gym, and every amenity. The final designs include Turett's signature tour-de-force stairs; sectional invention creating overlapping volumes of space; a dramatic triple-height steel-and-glass elevation; and extraordinary acoustical and thermal insulation as part of a highly energy efficient envelope.

New York, NY

Aug 2009

The owners of this 520 square foot, three-level studio loft had a few requests for Turett's design team: use sustainable materials throughout; incorporate an eclectic mix of bright colors and textures; gut everything...but preserve two decorative tiles from the existing bathroom for nostalgic value. TCA drew on its experience with 'green' materials to integrate FSC-certified wood flooring and kitchen cabinets, recycled mosaic glass tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms, no-VOC paint and energy efficient lighting throughout the space. One of the main challenges for TCA was separating the different programmatic areas -- kitchen, living room, and sleeping loft -- in an interesting way while maximizing the sense of space in a relatively small volume. The solution was a custom designed double-height screen of movable translucent panels that creates a hybrid room divider, feature wall, shelving system and guard rail. The three levels distinguished by the system are connected by stainless steel open riser stairs with FSC-certified treads to match the flooring. Creating a setting for the preserved ceramic pieces led to the development of this apartment's one-of-a-kind hidden gem: a 5'x7' powder room wall made of 126 six-inch tiles -- each one unique -- organized by color gradation. This complete renovation, from the plumbing fixtures and appliances to the hardware and finishes, is a perfect example of TCA's ability to integrate sustainable design principles with a client's individual aims.

New York, NY

Jul 2002

TCA’s bold, original design created a spacious, airy, and inventive house out of a former garage. The owner’s investment (purchase price and gross cost of the excavation) approximately doubled after the work was completed. A dramatic four-story staircase welcomes visitors as they enter the foyer; walking past, one will encounter a room flooded with natural light from two sources - a 16-pane skylight and an entire wall of windows. Another outstanding feature is the L-shaped koi pond that spans from the living room to the outdoor garden on the ground floor. Other notable features of the renovation include fully glazed back walls from the first to the fourth floor; a grass lawn on the second floor terrace; an outdoor shower off the master bedroom; a faux flower-covered garden wall on the ground floor; and the well-integrated luxuries of an elevator and indoor parking. Read more: http://www.turettarch.com/

New York, NY