After having previously renovated their Bridgehampton shingle-style house, Anik Pearson Architect was commissioned again to redesign their clients’ newly purchased rooftop duplex apartment along the Museum Mile in the Expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District. The penthouse floor, originally hastily constructed during the Great Crash of 1929, needed a full reconstruction to stabilize its shell while its core required a complete update. The redesign of the openings at the bulkhead achieved the delicate balance of preserving historical Neo-Renaissance features conceived by the original architect, while reconfiguring the openings beyond, satisfying both preservationists and clients. Large expanses of glass were added, creating a meaningful connection to the wrap-around terrace, and expanding the views of both Central Park and the East River on the opposite side. Working on a top-floor apartment was an opportunity to re-engineer the roof, opening the ceiling to the sky to flood the upper rooms with natural light while introducing lightwells to reach the deeper parts of the apartment below.

Collaborating with the interior designer, the team clad the rooms with stone, wood veneers, custom metalwork, and hardware. Oak, walnut, teak, and olive woods were introduced for their beautiful grains. In the family room, floor-to-ceiling book-matched walnut veneer panels trimmed with metal edging enhanced the room with warmth and texture. Hard surfaces included figured Burlesque marble, linking the entrance foyer to the family room in geometric abstraction. A lively quartzite was chosen as a feature wall in the double-height stairwell, mimicking a waterfall. The master bathroom was clad in a deep blue Azul Macauba, recalling aquatic landscapes. Integrated lighting throughout was designed to discreetly illuminate planes, edges, and recesses, highlighting unique features in every room.