The last residential building to be developed on this cobblestone block, 200 Water presented an opportunity for Gil Even-Tsur and Aufgang Architects to breathe new life into a historic industrial building.
Big themes are executed through small, precise details. Here sliding doors can be completely opened, creating an uninterrupted monolithic space and beautiful light and shadowlines. The door is recessed into the ceiling, creating a sense of seamless transition from wall to door to ceiling.
“My approach is sensitive and subtle. The building’s history, context and intended use all become key players in a conversation, and the outcome is a harmonious accord between past, present, and future.”
Gil Even-Tsur
“The idea is not to fight with the building. It’s about using what we have—the columns, the bays, the windows, the light—and allowing them to lead the way.”
Gil Even-Tsur
“I was working with the structure and bones of the building, the rhythm of the building, the sublime space of the building, the bones and ribs, preserving the history and integrity of the building.”
Gil Even-Tsur
The challenge, in Gil Even-Tsur’s words, was to “preserve the history but change the meaning.”
The dramatically high ceilings contrast with human scale, and that contrast in perspective is evident as one moves through the space. Vertical lines in wood and steel accentuate the height; the bench acknowledges the human form.
