Celeste Umpierre served as the associate in charge and senior designer at Diller Scofidio + Renfro on this project for a well-known American film producer, record executive, and media proprietor. The project, a combination of apartment and rooftop design, is conceived as an inhabitable wood curvilinear cabinet within the residence, creating a unique spatial and material experience. One may also liken its curvilinear sweeping horizontality and efficiently detailed form to that of a sailboat, one of Umpierre’s architectural muses.
The design occupies the entire building footprint, with central access organizing the perimeter rooms. The exterior alterations include a transformed top-floor facade, a stair structure to access the rooftop terrace, and a new canopy. The existing brick wall with windows is replaced with a continuous glazing enclosure, opening the apartment to natural light and expansive views of Central Park.
Flanking the living room are the sitting room to the north and the dining room to the south. These two spaces introduce the main sculptural features that generate the overall design. A curvilinear wood structure on the north contains the master suite and defines the main stair to the roof. The master bath is carved from the wooden master bedroom sculpture and features a skylight extending two stories high. The stem of this skylight also serves as the primary structural support for the roof addition.
The building integrates a brick structure with concrete floors and selective steel interventions to support both form and function. Wood carving defines the interior surfaces, complemented by a carefully considered lighting strategy that combines state of the art fixtures with indirect illumination. The lighting is designed to enhance the perception of space and extend the views from the interior to the terraces, creating a dynamic and immersive living environment.
