{"id":678,"date":"2026-04-03T05:02:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T05:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/?p=678"},"modified":"2026-04-03T05:02:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T05:02:00","slug":"diller-scofidio-renfro-rebuilds-manhattan-apartment-to-house-museum-quality-art-and-its-collectors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/?p=678","title":{"rendered":"Diller Scofidio + Renfro rebuilds Manhattan apartment to house museum-quality art and its collectors"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In rare cases, architects are able to explore certain design ideas to the fullest. All you need is an empathetic client with the right tools and insight. Fortunately, Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) had this opportunity to renovate a penthouse apartment in New York City. Although this project is not on the scale of a cultural or civic monument, the commission allowed a collective of architects and consultants, craftsmen, and engineers to create a singular example of this truism. Elizabeth Diller, principal at DS+R, said: \u201cDomestic projects are few and far between, but we took on this project because the client has a wealth of architectural knowledge and was open to a completely bespoke design approach down to the last detail.\u201d<\/p>\n

Renovating an apartment in a traditional modern mid-rise home may not seem that difficult. However, two factors had to be considered. For one thing, the 5,500-square-foot space in the 18-story 1960s limestone building overlooks Manhattan’s Central Park, and the client owns an important collection of postwar and contemporary art that needed to be properly displayed on the apartment grounds. The owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, discovered DS+R on the recommendation of a friend who knew of the company’s successful track record of designing art installations and museums.<\/p>\n

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The vestibule opens into the central hall (above), which leads to a living area with expansive views of Central Park (top of page). Photo \u00a9 Iwan Baan, click to enlarge.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In terms of views, DS+R found that the tower’s ungainly concrete frame blocked most of the breathtaking panorama of the park and the city skyline beyond. Since the client also owned the apartment below, DS+R proposed rebuilding the penthouse level using narrow steel columns with a Miesian profile. This not only supports the roof terrace above, but also ensures that the unparalleled views are unobstructed. The architects inserted steel beams into the floor slab at the base and placed cross-shaped columns away from new window walls in the living and dining areas. As a fire safety feature, the team coated the columns with an intumescent paint and wrapped them in stainless steel panels treated with a velvety bead-blasted finish.<\/p>\n

The glazed corners at each end of this space have been left recessed in accordance with the original floor plan, allowing the dining and living areas to be separated from the living room. A narrow terrace runs along the entire outer edge and continues past the bedrooms on the north side. The ultra-clear glass balustrade virtually disappears. The effect of the combination of these many subtle movements is powerful. Entering the living area through a narrow, dark vestibule clad in warm German oak, visitors first feel a sense of oppression and then, quite dramatically, a sense of freedom as the view invites the eye towards the park.<\/p>\n

One legal hurdle had to be faced before this ambitious initiative could be implemented. That is, will the major changes to the penthouse enclosure walls be visible from the street? Although this building is not a landmark, it is located within the historic district. Fortunately, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission determined that the changes would not be easily visible from the sidewalk below and would fit in with the surrounding context.<\/p>\n

In this greenhouse-like environment, the paintings are protected from sunlight by a UV coating on the outside of the large glass panes. A sunshade and museum-quality HVAC system balance glare, temperature, and humidity. An anti-reflective coating on the inside of the glass allows occupants to see the outside clearly. Privacy blinds prevent telescoped voyeurs from looking through other buildings. Additionally, DS+R worked with L’Observatoires International to install unobtrusive, temperature-controlled LEDs (with some halogen luminaires). \u201cClients hate seeing devices like sensors, light switches, and outlets,\u201d notes DS+R project leader Jeremy Boone Bordenab, explaining the many details that hide unsightly protrusions.<\/p>\n

Interior designer Rose Tarlow, who furnished the entire apartment, “understands the client very well,” Diller said. (The client works in the entertainment industry and spends some time in Los Angeles, where Tarlow had an office for many years.) “Rose’s eclectic sensibility created an interesting combination of materials, as well as soft and hard elements,” Diller says. “The effect is neither flashy nor overcrowded.” Tarlow helped DS+R choose the appropriate beige, off-white, and tan finishes to capture the client’s interest. \u201cShe was also very supportive of our work,\u201d Diller said.<\/p>\n

And DS+R’s work is certainly different. Some of the company’s notable contributions to the interiors include sculptural features made from Bavarian spessart oak, such as the geometrically structured credenza in the dining area, the central hall atrium, and the cantilevered desks in the bedrooms. Unique elements such as the organically shaped door handles with contrasting vertical and horizontal wood grains also catch the eye. The architects claim they juxtaposed veneer and CNC-milled solid wood to emphasize both the flatness and depth of the oak.<\/p>\n

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Curved details include milled credenzas (1) and door handles (2), and stone-lined daylight windows in the main bath (3). Photo \u00a9 Iwan Baan (1 & 3), Diller Scofidio + Renfro (2)<\/em><\/p>\n

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The central hall is dominated by a credenza-like oak staircase. It curves dramatically up to the roof. The architects carved out solid wood risers to illuminate the underside of each tread diagonally, creating ambient light. Visitors are assisted up the stairs by a leather railing to large glass doors. Its door opens onto the terrace. On the terrace, teak decking, walls and soffits frame another spectacular view of the park. \u201cWe think of it like a tree trunk that extends upward and outward, forming a canopy to protect the outdoor dining area,\u201d Diller adds. During the warmer months, the lush plantings of the rooftop terrace designed by Piet O’Dolph (who worked with DS+R on New York City’s legendary High Line) blend into the green belt extending to the west and north.<\/p>\n

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The terrace (4) features foam (5) wrapped in teak wood. Photo \u00a9 Ivan Baan<\/em><\/p>\n

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While the roof is allocated to outdoor living, the screening room and library on the lower level provide an introverted, oak-lined environment for enjoying various forms of entertainment. Adjacent to the screening room are the bedroom suites and guest rooms, each of which embraces a tailored aesthetic, softened by the use of tanned leather on the floors, headboard and oak writing desk surfaces. Oak is used throughout, even the retractable aluminum louvers in the master bedroom window treatments are covered in oak.<\/p>\n

DS+R’s material appeal extends beyond the bedroom, as demonstrated by the main bath. Here, a double-height limestone-clad lightwell soars above a sinuous bath carved from a single block of limestone. The bathroom’s gentle curved motif is echoed elsewhere, with the exception of the kitchen, where straight lines predominate. An island topped with a sintered stone counter anchors the room. Suspended overhead is a V-shaped stainless steel light fixture with a DS+R design. The elongated backlit Estremoz marble panels fold into place like moth wings when not in use.<\/p>\n

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Except for the angular kitchen (7), there are lots of curved geometric patterns, like the master bedroom (6). Photo \u00a9 Ivan Baan<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Looking back on the housing project, Diller admits he feels nostalgic about the time he spent working on it, about five years. \u201cThis is unusual in that we have to go into so much detail,\u201d she says. \u201cIt was deeper and more personal than broad.\u201d This kind of inventive architectural endeavor remains a one-off statement, but it nonetheless affirms the power of the creative act. Specifically, the interiors bear witness to the result of a talent for relentless research finding just the right client.<\/p>\n

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Image courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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credit<\/h4>\n

Architect:<\/strong>
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Diller Scofidio + Renfro<\/p>\n

Interior designer:<\/strong>
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rose tarlow<\/p>\n

engineer:<\/strong>
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TYLin (Structural); Police Engineering (MEP)<\/p>\n

consultant:<\/strong>
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Piet Odolf, Richard Herbert (landscape). L’Observatoire International (lighting); WSDG (acoustics); Atelier Ten (sustainability); M. Ludvik Engineering, James R. Gainfort (facade)<\/p>\n

General contractor:<\/strong>
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Wraith<\/p>\n

client:<\/strong>
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on hold<\/p>\n

size:<\/strong>
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9,050 square feet<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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source of information<\/h4>\n

Woodwork:<\/strong>
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merit<\/p>\n

Interior finish:<\/strong>
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Avorio limestone (floor and wall tiles). Michelle Costello (leather); Rensen (shades). Torfig (outlet)<\/p>\n

Hardware:<\/strong>
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Rixon (Closer). Deventer, Planet FT (seal). Theophile (captured)<\/p>\n

Cladding:<\/strong>
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Glen Gehry (brick); Guardian, Glass TroschCurtain, Sedak, Freiner + Reifer (glazing); Fetzer (teak panel)<\/p>\n

Lit:<\/strong>
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Perfection Electricks, Flos, Viabizzuno, Hunza, Specialty Lighting Industries, No. Eight Lighting, designplan, ETC<\/p>\n

Piping:<\/strong>
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Duravit, TOTO, Dornbrecht, Fantini<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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#Diller #Scofidio #Renfro #rebuilds #Manhattan #apartment #house #museumquality #art #collectors<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In rare cases, architects are able to explore certain design ideas to the fullest. All you need is an empathetic client with the right tools and insight. Fortunately, Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) had this opportunity to renovate a penthouse apartment in New York City. Although this project is not on the scale of a … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[502,1],"tags":[1359,581,1361,1355,686,1256,1360,1257,1358,1357,1356],"class_list":["post-678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-design","category-general","tag-apartment","tag-art","tag-collectors","tag-diller","tag-house","tag-manhattan","tag-museumquality","tag-new-york-city","tag-rebuilds","tag-renfro","tag-scofidio"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/picsura.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}