Blue Building in Brooklyn by Lot Office for Architecture.

Designed by New York and Greece architecture and design practice LOT, the Blue Building is a private home located in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Commissioned by an artist couple, the complete gut renovation of a centenary townhouse brought the opportunity to create a statement within a vibrant, changing neighbourhood. The arresting monochromatic blue exterior responds with its own bold expression to the urban fabric.

“The colour is inspired by the Studio’s design project Formations, a series of ultramarine blue playful seating-scaled elements that at the time of construction was first presented as an urban art installation,” explains the LOT team.

The three-storey building of 300 square meters of total space area opens up to a private patio at the back of the lot intentionally left open and built around an existing large magnolia tree. The light-coloured concrete patio is surrounded by a reflective corrugated surface that picks up all colour changes throughout the passing of the day.

A blue perforated aluminium outdoor curtain isolates part of the outdoor space, creating an intimate environment with a sense of privacy as the lower floor of the building often hosts guests.

The interior has been completely renovated leaving only the bare structure of the existing building. Narrow black stained hardwood floor, bright white walls and exposed original brick elements give a loft-like feel and intensify the opened-up interior space volume.

On the top floor, the tall ceiling creates an open living loft with large windows and skylights. Translucent, full-height polycarbonate panels open up to the few rooms, such as a children room and a study connecting them all in one space, maintaining visual continuity, brightness and sense of scale when shut.

Metal extrusions that frame the openings at the outside create depth between interior and exterior. Their inner side painted white reflects more bright light into the interior space and extends the interior outside.

Related: Renovation of a Row House in Antwerp by Bovenbouw.

[Images courtesy of Lot Office for Architecture. Photography by Brian Ferry.]