SoHo Loft
New York, New York
2025
This loft renovation reimagines a rare space for a Manhattan family within a neoclassical building in SoHo. Previous renovations separated the apartment into multiple units and created mezzanine areas with circuitous circulation. The design reallocates mezzanine floor area to shape a new living space within the historic building shell, composed around a grid of six cast iron Corinthian columns. Elements of the original building were carefully restored—Italian marble flooring, sixteen foot high vaulted brick ceilings and oversized double-hung windows.
Complimenting the traditional shell, a mix of utilitarian materials and fixtures reinforce the SoHo loft character—patchwork floor infill areas of polished concrete, reclaimed maple factory flooring at the mezzanine level, plaster walls, commercial chrome plumbing fixtures, custom brass door hardware, and a commercial stainless steel kitchen. Larch wood was sourced for millwork elements, including a large paneled bookcase screening the entry area from the living space.
A stainless steel kitchen anchors the space, its reflective surfaces animating the room with shifting light. An exposed duct extends from the vent hood, emphasizing the room’s vertical scale. At center, an island of Carrara marble remnants offers a sculptural nod to the patterned floor below. A freestanding refrigerator and vintage cabinet complete the composition, balancing function with character.
Millwork throughout the loft was crafted from a single larch tree. A solid larch bookcase was installed to serve as both storage and screen, dividing the main room while subtly concealing the elevator entrance. Where original marble floor tiles were missing, site-cast polished concrete patches were poured—not as imitation, but as a deliberate counterpoint to the existing material.
The primary bathroom was enveloped in reclaimed vintage tile, bringing warmth and texture to the space. A raised teak mat was built to define the shower floor, while a freestanding bathtub was placed as a quiet centerpiece. The Carrara marble vanity was designed to highlight its slab-like construction. Soft light now filters through new wire-glass doors, lending the space a calm glow.
A steel spiral stair serves as a secondary link between the loft’s two levels. Made from mild steel, the stair retains its raw mill finish—sealed to reveal roller marks, welding halos, and the traces of its making. This honest expression of material ties the new stair to the original cast iron columns, combining past and present.
