The multi-level addition, containing both living and workspaces, sits atop a 12-story, turn of the century landmark building in lower Manhattan. The project was conceived as three distinct elements: a floating horizontal volume for a self-contained apartment, a vertical tower bedroom duplex, and a horizontal wing for offices and a library. A garden court, a glass enclosed atrium, and the open plan of the main space unite to form a continuous zone of interior/exterior connected space. 

The technical requirements of adding this structure on top of an existing iron structure of limited capacity resulted in core architectural elements that guided the design. The structural steel frame of the suspended volume and the long span lateral transfer beams needed to connect new structure to old, were emphasized. The material palette employs an aesthetic based upon New York City’s unique rooftop vernacular, using materials and details derived from traditional mechanical equipment enclosures.