Downtown Loft

Light is the theme of this minimal and modern intervention.

The renovated apartment is located on the third floor of the oldest building on the downtown pedestrian mall in Charlottesville, Virginia. The existing three-story structure built in 1843 was in sorry shape — framing, roof, insulation, windows, mechanical systems, electrical and plumbing were all completely renewed to serve for another century or more.

What used to be a dark commercial space with claustrophobic offices and an enclosed storage attic was transformed into a single spacious open floor apartment with sleeping loft. Transparency from front to back is a key design intent, giving visual access to the street trees in front, the play of sunlight in the back and allowing multiple modes of direct and indirect natural lighting. A single scaled up cabinet "box" with hidden hardware, secret doors and rooms runs the length of the building and houses a kitchen, a bathroom, services and storage. All kitchen appliances disappear when not in use. Doors to the left and right of the work surface open fully for access to a wall oven and a refrigerator.