Darrick Borowski, creative director at Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture, likens the previous incarnation of Michael Pozner’s studio to a school dorm. “He had been occupying the distance without really living in it nothing had a home,” says Borowski. “Our goal was to embed his lifestyle to the DNA of the area, let his living patterns sculpt and mold the space to create an elegant and efficient atmosphere.”
at a Glance
Who lives here: Michael Pozner
Location: East Village area of Manhattan, New York
Size: Nearly 500 square feet
That is interesting: Secret Package for clothing storage hide in the stair risers to the loft.
Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture
When Pozner, the head of retail development to American Apparel, approached Borowski and his group for a consultation, everybody thought that Pozner’s needs would be rather regular: sourcing for basic furniture, giving advice on paint colors and working on flooring refinishing. But after talking Pozner’s requirements because of his joint work and private distance, Borowski understood that a broader renovation was needed.
Pozner had been pushing against the limits of his apartment before Borowski and his team were in the picture : Not only did he use the studio as an office area and sleeping quarters, but he also used it as a holding place to his toys and artwork pieces.
Borowski says, “The resulting sculptural volume seems to have been dropped into an otherwise clean white box, creating a focal object and organizing the distance into private and public areas.”
Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture
White walnut planks wrap the kitchen, bath, closets and sleeping loft. Every chance for storage was utilized, such as drawers built into the stair risers, cabinets that go to the ceiling and a brand new walk-in closet under the sleeping loft.
Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture
Building the bed stage as part of the loft structure allowed for the walk in closet under; it can accommodate Pozner’s full height of more than 6 feet. A roller shade lowers to separate the sleeping loft from the living space.
Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture
The kitchen countertops are narrow slabs of ebony marble from Ann Sacks. The appliances are stainless and mostly European. Pozner’s studio includes two appliances that each and every city dweller would love to possess: a stacked washer and dryer next to the fridge.
Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture
A wall-mounted unit replaced with a typical toilet to produce more floor space. The walls are tiled in a narrow Italian porcelain brick mosaic that has the visual effect of natural stone.
Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture
Borowski and his group clearly defined each space. This is the living room and work place. After each space from the unit was assigned a specific function, the result was a feeling of visual clarity in the overall apartment.
Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture
A set of niches in the shower produce more storage and surface area. Matte black powder-coated toilet and shower fixtures were arranged specially for the unit, as the finish was not yet accessible in the United States at the time of the remodel.
Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture
The end result is an extremely efficient living area that overlooks each square inch of space to meet the requirements of the client’s professional work …
Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture
… and private way of life. The final apartment has a feeling of openness — “and Mike did not have to move apartments!” Says Borowski.
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