Located in the former YMCA in East Liberty (c.1908), this residential loft unit balances a clean, simple, modern aesthetic against the historic Classical Revival structure. The 1,395 sq. ft. unit occupies the northeast corner of the third floor, with six over-sized windows framing a sweeping view of the East Liberty cathedral. The design objective was to create within the shell of the building an airy and elegant, informal yet luxurious living space.

Punctuating the white palette and historic building details as pops of modern design and color are two freestanding volumes, clad in custom red panels and placed so as to define specific living spaces within the long, rectangular loft. These “cubes” separate public zones from private and create rooms without walls or doors, while appearing to float under the 12-foot-high ceilings. The larger, functional cube contains the kitchen, laundry room and master bath. The smaller cube—more of a partition—houses audiovisual equipment for the living area and open shelving in the office.