Case Study: Change of Plans

True to form in historic structures, curve balls are par for the course. But we're accustomed to knocking them out of the park.

LEFT: FOYER BEFORE RIGHT: AFTER DEMOLITION

Amidst demolition of our Boston project, we discovered an additional 3’ of space above a drop ceiling [WINNING!] along with a behemoth relic of the building’s antiquated steam heat system [F%$!]. Now uncovered, it conspicuously bisected the length of the newly soaring hallway. So I thought we’d have the plumber just ‘nudge’ it over to hug the wall, paint it bright primary hue to designate it as a feature and call it a day. But true to form in historic structures, nothing goes according to plan. At 20' long and a cost of nearly 1/10 of the project budget to remove, it was determined that pipe wasn't going anywhere. So now what?

As a seasoned designer, I'm accustomed to these sorts of suprises. And with a particular knack for spatial interventions, my instinct kicked. So did my hope that the client would buy into my idea: an undulating suspended structure that mimics one of their regular holiday destinations—the ocean. They jumped with both feet.

Like waves meeting the shoreline, it ripples the length of the hallway, inserting a gentle rhythm to dance around the pipe, guide the eye along the length of the room and visually bridge the adjacent spaces. And because I obesses over details, the edges are cut into a uniform reveal, hovering away from the wall to create the illusion of floating. 

Beyond aesthetic appeal, the staccato slats are suprisingly eco-friendly. Made from upcycled rice hulls manufactured in a zero-waste USA facility, they provide a foil for accent lighting while disguising plumbing and electrical systems, uneven brick surfaces and the raw concrete slab ceiling above. 

I firmly believe your dream home should be more than just good looks. Our designs distill your vision and the unique(ly challenging) nuances of your space into custom, site-specific solutions that blend utility and fantasy… exquisitely.