I
t is probable that the space that was transformed to create this
unusual residence of two small but lofty rooms was used as store
to service the old nearby shipping trade during the nineteenth
century. It occupies the ground floor of an apartment block
one short block from the Hudson River, but it might be part
of a bastide or mas, so
redolent is its character
of old French farmhouse
interiors.
This project was rather
different from architect���s
usual city work, not only for
its rustic Mediterranean
aesthetic, but also because
it was mostly directed by
the owner herself. It was
Dona Just���s guiding vision
to contrive a farmhouse
atmosphere where others
might have created a smart
but sterile urban flat. An
advertising
executive
with a love of outdoor pursuits, Dona wanted a city retreat that
would feel casual and reflect her European heritage. She engaged
the architect to provide the essential architectural input, and
they created a main kitchen/living room that runs through to a
charming courtyard garden, with a bedroom opening off one side.
At the other end of the main room, above the kitchen area, is a
HYLAND
