Gramercy Park Duplex

TYPE: Residential

Client: Chana Ben-Dov

Gramery Park East

New York, NY

BACKGROUND

Overlooking Gramercy Park, this duplex penthouse is located in a historic, well-known, and affluent neighborhood in Manhattan. Having owned the building for many years, the client’s family sought to renovate the existing duplex penthouse into a high-end rental.

CLIENT’S NEEDS

The client requested a gut renovation to a create this high-end rental unit, seeking to merge the apartment’s historical features with a contemporary, minimal aesthetic.

DESIGN INTENT

Our design intent centered around reorganizing the duplex’s existing elements to create a more open, contemporary apartment while maintaining a few historical features from the original building. Because the central area of the duplex was dark, we proposed relocating the internal staircase towards the interior and installing a new skylight overhead to allow sunlight to stream into the center of the lower floors. This light-filled stair created the framework that established the overall circulation and how the other rooms were arranged.

FINAL PROJECT

The gut renovation included structural modifications to accommodate the stair’s relocation and installation of a new skylight which flooded the apartment’s interior with natural light. The minimal contemporary design features a sleek, custom-made steel and glass staircase, warm stone and wood finishes, concealed cove lighting, and a Poggenpohl kitchen.
The kitchen was completely replaced and includes luxury elements like an integrated espresso machine to complete the modern, high-end aesthetic. The bathrooms were also replaced and designed in a contemporary style, with transitional design elements and details.  We kept the living room’s fireplace as a historical element, restoring its ornately carved marble to compliment the new aesthetic. Upstairs, we restored the roof deck and terrace, installing glass railings to avoid disrupting the view of the park.
The completed duplex offers a contemporary residence with understated elegance and luxury. The space uniquely combines historic elements with modern sophistication, creating an ideal space for residents to live in Gramercy Park.