Architects, Architecture Firms, & Building Designers Near New York

Our clients acquired a development site in Brooklyn with exceptional potential and exceptional complexity: building directly above the L subway line with contaminated soil conditions. Most developers would walk away. They needed an architect who could navigate multiple regulatory agencies to make the project viable. The challenge: design and permit an 8-story, 8-unit residential building over active MTA infrastructure while managing EPA soil remediation requirements. Each agency brought its own technical requirements, approval timelines, and non-negotiable constraints that could sink the project if not coordinated perfectly. We managed the regulatory gauntlet: coordinating with MTA on foundation design and construction protocols over subway infrastructure, working with EPA on contaminated soil remediation and environmental compliance, and maintaining NYC Department of Buildings approvals throughout. Simultaneously, we designed a building that respects its dynamic Brooklyn context—white brick with black metal window frames and balconies creating a quiet, confident presence rather than shouting for attention. The result: successful completion in Summer 2020. The clients transformed a complicated site into 8 residential units plus ground-floor commercial space, proving that challenging sites can deliver strong returns with the right technical and regulatory expertise. Project Scope: Location: Metropolitan Avenue and Leonard Street, Brooklyn, NY (over the L subway line) Type: New construction mixed-use building Size: 8 stories, 8 residential units, ground-floor commercial Completed: Summer 2020 Major challenges: MTA coordination (building over active subway), EPA compliance (contaminated soil remediation) Design approach: White brick with black metal accents, contextual integration Services: Design, MTA coordination, EPA compliance, permitting, construction administration

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Located in the heart of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, the building was erected on a shallow commercial lot between two 120 year old masonry buildings and a new residential rental building. 330 Grand Street is a mix of 725 SF 1BRs and 1050 SF 2BR apartments. It also contains a 1100 SF two story duplex as well as private and public rooftop space, large private balconies for most units and two large private terraces for the ground floor units. 330 Grand Street was originally designed and approved at the NYC DOB as a prefabricated modular building. During the pandemic, as shipping costs skyrocketed putting the project at risk, we suggested redesigning the building as a reinforced cast-in-place concrete structure. Concrete was readily available and prices had not been affected by the demand increase that many other materials suffered in the pandemic. We took this opportunity to raise floor to ceiling heights, enlarge high performance windows and redistribute the buildings MEPFS and Structural Systems to create very open floor plans. The challenge was to create a luxurious sensorial living experience with very limited means. In a city with very high construction costs, low cost residential buildings in the area are usually devoid of good quality, design and character. Our approach was to aim high for the end user, prioritizing natural light, open space with long visual perspectives, high ceilings and as always, rejecting the use of predefined building templates. Our biggest challenge was to ensure that the small spaces feel as clean cut, large and bright as possible. Several unique design decisions were made to ensure low cost and high quality; Floor plans were laid out so that spaces were wide open and free of clutter from mechanical or structural interruptions. Therefore all infrastructure was placed in lateral demising walls, which in turn act as the unit’s storage and kitchen. The apartments feel wide open, are super quiet and have more storage space than any other comparable apartment in the city. To solve the problem of the site’s shallow commercial lot which is typically prone to dark interior spaces we focused our attention on the building’s envelope. Instead of the usual small punched window openings, oversized high performance windows were designed to ensure that light penetrated as far as possible into the units. In the smaller 1BR units, the full 50’ depth of the lot is perceived by partitioning spaces with sliding pocket doors that can be retracted to allow deep visual perspectives, making the sight lines in the space feel longer, larger, more ample than normal. In addition to the full height glazing, each unit above the 2nd floor receives a 7 foot covered balcony, adding 120 to 240 sf to each apartment, something unusual in New York City buildings. The space is large enough for a full size dining table, when the weather permits being outside. We also worked hard to ensure modularity. For example, all kitchen units are all identical throughout the building. The idea of modularity and the economy of the repetitive unit is exercised to the maximum through the building. Hardware, appliances, flooring, wall coverings and material finishes are all carefully selected to feel bespoke, high quality and unique. It was important to KURV that the result of this work manifest into something that would deeply connect with the end user and sustain relationships with the consumers of this space. All images by KURV Architecture ©

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Landmark Brownstone gut renovation in New York City

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This historic rowhouse measures only 12’-6” wide inside. With six levels of living space organized around a central stair, it was originally a tall stack of narrow rooms. To optimize usable space, we deployed design solutions that maximize and multiply functions. A successful project includes getting the building’s systems working right so our clients can enjoy their house effortlessly. As such, our targeted work provided critical remediation and upgrades to the house. We strategized to fix a cellar floor prone to flooding, revamped mechanical systems, secured the main stair, and repaired the building envelope. Indeed, most of this key work is hidden behind the scenes. Meanwhile, our focused design gave a much-needed facelift to the parlor floor and strategic upgrades to the others. Built between 1865-1871, this Italianate brick rowhouse is noted by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) for its elliptically arched door and window openings and is listed as a landmark building itself, rather than part of a historic district. Façade restoration includes all new street-facing windows to meet LPC standards, masonry repointing, and fresh paint. Likewise, at the building rear, a new parlor window echoes the arches of the façade with a contemporary interpretation. On the parlor floor, we removed dated materials and finishes, unoriginal to the building and inconsistent with modern life. We replaced dark tiles with a new stone flooring pattern. A re-envisioned fireplace boasts a sleek quartzite mantel with soapstone hearthstone. The new steel window, echoing the elliptical entry door, bathes the room in natural light. In parallel, we traded heavy, dated curtains for an elegant mechanical shade, heavy window bars and thick wood windows for slim steel frames and a retractable insect screen. Custom walnut and soapstone millwork conceals HVAC and AV equipment while integrating lighting and display. Downstairs and located below grade, the garden room has direct access to both the garden and family space. The room’s wide door opening allows natural light deep into the house. This family room also doubles as the guest room; tucked behind a wide panel, a murphy bed folds down for overnight guests, with the panel functioning as a huge door to close off the room for privacy—a compact solution for flexible living. On the children’s floor, we maximized storage and made doors serve double duty. Coplanar door hardware at the stair landing provides a muted, paneled wall, with doors that slide open to reveal storage, while eliminating awkward swings and making the most of a narrow space. Inspired by Marcel Duchamp’s inventive small-apartment doors in Paris, each bedroom door pivots to serve dual purposes—concealing a clothing bay or closing off the ensuite bathroom to form a private dressing area. The result: a restored and reimagined home—where robust infrastructure, refined materials, and modern interventions bring contained elegance and effortless livability to a historic structure.

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In this Upper West Side townhouse, we reimagined a classic brownstone for contemporary living. Our work is a combination of restoration and modern extensions. Two extensions, at the rear and on the rooftop, add square footage and increase property value. Each extension creates double-height spaces, adding unexpected drama and flow to this brownstone. Likewise, adding these extensions allowed us to claim multiple levels of outdoor space, designing to perfectly suit our clients’ needs. Rooftop and garden extensions improve connections from inside to out, weaving greenery and plants throughout the house. Now, suspended terraces overlook the garden and our new rooftop extension transforms the roof in two zones: a large rear deck and generous entertaining area and, at the rooftop’s front, a small, serene retreat complete with hot tub. Large windows at the rear extension bring daylight deep inside, flooding the heart of the house in natural light and bathing a two-story vine trellis. This extension unites the parlor and garden levels with a double-height space, making interior connections that are unusual for a townhouse. Furthermore, upstairs, we placed a new light shaft where daylight floods the primary bathroom vanity. This bathroom also includes a teak and hinoki cedar ofuro tub, and a separate walk-in shower. Additionally, a laundry chute delivers clothing two stories below. Likewise, our design creates two additional planted terraces, more private than the garden or roof: one off the grandparents’ suite and another of the daughter’s room. Moreover, we added an elevator—a key insertion given the vertical nature of this house—to connect all seven levels where this multi-general family’s living spaces unfold. On the garden level, the kitchen is a cook’s dream, complete with a 60” Wolf range, a vacuum sealer and a meat dry ager, a warming drawer and steam oven, and ample workspace. Custom hickory cabinets with custom pulls unify doors, sliding coplanar panels, and drawers. Moreover, a cleverly hidden Roomba charging station makes for easy cleanup. In the garden, we placed a wood fired grill. Additionally, downstairs, the cellar gym features a climbing wall and gains natural light from a walkable skylight. The parlor floor boasts a restored and reconfigured entrance, gracious living room, and dining room overlooking a double-height space. The new wet bar makes entertaining easy. We restored the original details and millwork of this grand brownstone, offering a glimpse into a gilded past while accommodating full comfort and functionality of a busy family city life, balanced by the serenity of plants and natural light.

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Located in the heart of Manhattan's bustling Flatiron District, Forma Med Spa is designed to be a sanctuary of transformation and renewal. This medical spa specializes in cosmetic procedures, requiring a space that allows for a curated transition from urban chaos to serenity and self-improvement. The spa is a patient-centered space, designed keeping in mind the nuances of aesthetic medicine. From the moment visitors approach the building, they are welcomed by a façade that blends the new with the existing. The spa's entrance, an extended double-door vestibule, is collaged into the pre-existing structure to create a harmonious distinction with the adjacent residential entrance vestibule. A planter is placed between these entrances to balance the architectural composition of the façade, subtly echoing the balanced results of the facial procedures offered inside the building. As one steps through the threshold to leave the cacophony of the city behind, the transition begins. The reception and waiting area is anchored by a red travertine desk, offering a warm welcome. From here, visitors embark on a journey through a series of spaces, each increasing in privacy and tranquility. The design of Forma Med Spa revolves around the concepts of transformation and euphemism. The floor plan guides patients through a curving hallway that enhances the fluidity of movement and leads to discreet procedure and exam rooms towards the left side of the hallway. There is a progression from light to dark spaces, mirroring the journey from public to private, and from exposed to protected. Minimal artificial lighting throughout the spa creates an intimate atmosphere, allowing visitors to feel sheltered from the outside world. As one moves deeper into the space, the ceiling height gradually decreases to enhance a sense of comfort and coziness. The culmination of this narrative happens in the recovery area, a cave-like decompression space dominated by a rock wall that measures approximately 13'6" wide by 11'2" high. This space, illuminated from above by a skylight, serves as a sanctuary for post-procedure reflection and relaxation. In this interplay of light and shadow, patients can take a moment to pause and prepare for their re-emergence into the world. Throughout Forma Med Spa, material shave been chosen to create a luxurious yet natural ambiance. To contain the overall design, wooden boards are fitted into the ceiling's grid structure to provide a subtle contrast to the fluid layout below. This interplay between structured elements and organic forms reflects the delicate balance sought inaesthetic procedures, enhancing natural beauty while maintaining harmony and proportion. The spa's layout guides visitors through a (transformative) journey that mirrors the physical changes they seek. From the initial welcome to the private treatment rooms, and finally to the serene recovery space, each area has been conceived to support and enhance the patient experience. As the visit concludes, the space gradually reintroduces light and openness, preparing visitors for their return to the urban scape of New York.

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