SEVEN, located off Park Avenue in New York City, is a project by Adjaye Associates that redefines the interplay between historical preservation and modern intervention. Originally a 1897 carriage house, the structure has been transformed into a contemporary residence that accommodates a young family and their extensive art collection. The project presents an architectural response to the challenges of retaining the historical integrity of the landmark façade while reimagining the interior to meet contemporary needs.
SEVEN Residence Technical Information
- Architects: Adjaye Associates
- Location: Park Avenue, New York, USA
- Topics: American Houses, Total Black
- Area: 900 m2 | 9,700 Sq. Ft.
- Original Structure: A 1897 carriage house off Park Avenue
- Completon Year: 2010
- Photographs: © Lyndon Douglas, © Robert Polidori
The façade remains true to its history and landmark status, while the interior has witnessed the removal of the old building and excavation of a deep cellar.
– Adjaye Associates Architects
SEVEN Residence Photographs
SEVEN Residence: Preservation of the Façade
The façade of the original carriage house, dating back to 1897, has been carefully preserved in adherence to the building’s landmark status. This decision retains the building’s historical identity within the urban streetscape while juxtaposing the radical changes made to the interior.
Preservation regulations required precise restoration techniques and design strategies to integrate the façade with a new structural framework. The project navigates these challenges by employing modern materials like black concrete, which contrasts yet supports the restored façade, creating a deliberate dialogue between past and present.
Interior Transformation
The interior of SEVEN diverges significantly from its historical exterior. A deep cellar was excavated to provide additional usable space, allowing for a six-story interior while maintaining the external appearance of a more modest structure. This design choice exemplifies how subterranean construction can expand urban living space without impacting the visible scale of the building.
Black concrete, a primary material within the house, provides structural stability while introducing a contemporary aesthetic. Its rough texture contrasts sharply with the finely detailed historic façade, inverting traditional expectations of material use. This contrast also emphasizes the different eras represented in the project, visually marking the transition from preservation to modernity.
At the center of the building, a courtyard with a fountain serves as an open-air atrium, linking various levels through natural light and spatial continuity. Adjacent to the courtyard, a floating staircase connects the interior spaces and leads to a planted roof garden, further enhancing the vertical flow of the design.
Sustainability and the Roof Garden
The roof garden introduces an ecological dimension to the project. Planted with sedum and moss, the garden provides year-round greenery that requires minimal maintenance, contributing to the environmental efficiency of the building. Beyond its sustainability features, the garden serves as a private outdoor space for the residents, integrating nature into the urban setting.
This element reflects Adjaye Associates’ broader interest in embedding sustainable practices into their designs. By incorporating natural elements like the roof garden and central courtyard, SEVEN offers strategies for enhancing environmental performance in dense urban contexts.
Through its careful attention to materials, space, and context, SEVEN serves as a case study in navigating the complexities of adaptive reuse. For architects and designers, it offers insights into how history can coexist with innovation in a way that enriches both.
SEVEN Residence Plans
SEVEN Residence Image Gallery
About Adjaye Associates
Adjaye Associates is an internationally renowned architecture and design practice founded by Sir David Adjaye in 2000. With offices in Accra, London, and New York, the firm has become synonymous with innovative and culturally resonant design. Adjaye’s work spans a diverse range of projects, including private residences, cultural institutions, and public spaces, each marked by a deep understanding of context, history, and materiality. His notable works include the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., and Ruby City in San Antonio.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Architect: Adjaye Associates
- Client: Adam Lindemann and Amalia Dayan
- Mechanical Engineer: Altieri Sebor Wieber
- Structural Engineer: Dewhurst Macfarlane & Partners
