Harrison Street Residence
Harrison Street Residence is a minimalist home located in Tribeca, New York, designed by MA Studio. The decision to replace the original narrow metal spiral staircase with a sculptural plaster form demonstrates this principle beautifully. This new staircase does not merely connect floors; it reorients the entire spatial narrative, transforming what felt like disconnected levels into a cohesive vertical journey. The plaster’s smooth surfaces catch and reflect the abundant daylight filtering through the 18-foot ceilings, creating moments of visual poetry that shift throughout the day.
The material choices throughout reveal a sophisticated understanding of how texture and tone can modulate emotional response. Where the original exposed brick might have felt too assertive, the studio chose to soften one wall with matching plaster, allowing the arched windows to claim their rightful prominence. This move echoes the work of contemporary masters like Peter Zumthor, who recognize that sometimes the most powerful architectural moments come from knowing when to step back and let light take center stage.
The collaboration with Love House introduces another layer of meaning to the project, but it is the inclusion of Known Work pieces that reveals the studio’s deeper commitment to emerging design voices. Known Work’s aesthetic philosophy – one that embraces both precision and playfulness – finds natural resonance within the apartment’s industrial bones. Their pieces function as more than mere furnishings; they become sculptural interventions that bridge the gap between craft tradition and contemporary innovation. A Known Work console or side table carries within its form the maker’s particular understanding of material and process, adding an extra layer of depth that cannot be achieved through conventional furniture selection alone.
The project’s true innovation lies not in any single gesture but in its systematic approach to spatial rhythm. Like a carefully composed piece of music, the apartment moves between moments of expansion and compression, light and shadow, rough and smooth. The master bathroom’s handcrafted tiles and freestanding bath create one kind of sanctuary, while the guest bathroom’s hot stone sauna offers another entirely. These variations prevent the space from falling into monotony while maintaining an underlying coherence.
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