Wild Art Collector Condo

Live, work, and art – all in one place. Built for an art collector in New York City, this top-floor condo is filled with sweeping curves and subtle illumination – but these artistic moves are tempered with strategically flat wall surfaces for hanging artworks as well.

UNstudio, like any museum designer, faced the challenge of optimizing the design for artwork without letting pieces become overwhelmed by the architecture and interior design strategies – particularly tricky with the added element of inhabitants.

Track-lighting lines in the ceiling draw the eye through each area of the main (open floor plan) space, while back-lit panels in between provide even lighting for works of sculpture set on the floor and other art hanging from the walls. The light-bleached wood flooring is intentionally inconspicuous.

The flush-set lights are adjustable LEDs that shift from bright daylight-simulating luminosity to ambient darkness depending on the needs of the resident and surrounding art pieces. The moving track lights are likewise mobile in order to accommodate a variety of living and display conditions. Controlled daylighting is mostly limited to more private rooms, such as the bedroom and office.

Within the undulating folds of the gypsum-panel walls hide HVAC and other active systems, all carefully concealed to give the home a clean, clutter-free and gallery-like appearance.