A New Standard in Living: The Carnegie Hill Apartment by MKCA

The Carnegie Hill apartment, masterfully renovated by Michael K. Chen Architecture (MKCA), is a testament to the seamless fusion of innovation and elegance.

A living room with white furniture and a fireplace.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

This 4,000-square-foot space, located in the heart of New York City, has undergone a transformative redesign that caters to the needs of a bustling urban family while preserving the apartment’s inherent grandeur.

MKCA’s design concept revolves around a pinwheel-shaped circulation zone, strategically reorganizing the layout to provide effortless access to various living spaces. The apartment boasts an array of ingenious design elements, including pivot and slide doors and reconfigurable rooms.

Materiality and volume have been meticulously considered, resulting in a stunning combination of poured terrazzo flooring and cerused oak millwork. Custom furniture and furnishings further enhance the apartment’s mutability, tactility, and elegance.

Design collaboration has yielded a dialogue between objects, elevating the space into a fluid, modern home that showcases bold architectural and aesthetic choices.

A hallway with wooden paneling and a large painting.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A hallway with a wooden door and a vase.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A hallway with wooden panels and a wooden floor.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A black bench in a hallway with a picture above it.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with a grey rug and a glass coffee table.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with a fireplace and a chair.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A wooden cabinet with a vase on top of it.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with couches and a coffee table.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with gray furniture and a large painting.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A white sideboard in a room with a vase of flowers.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A view of a living room with a wooden floor.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with bookshelves and a dining table.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

Photography © Max Burkhalter

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A dining room with bookshelves and a table.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A modern dining room with a wooden table and chairs.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A dining room with a large table and chairs.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with a wooden floor and bookshelves.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with bookshelves and a painting.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with bookshelves and a tv.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A wooden shelf with a lot of vases on it.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A hallway with bookshelves and a bookcase.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A modern kitchen with white cabinets and marble counter tops.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A modern kitchen with a marble island and stools.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A kitchen with wooden cabinets and a sink.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with a fireplace and a tv.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with wooden doors and a couch.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with a grey couch and a large painting.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A white bathroom with a brown and white tiled floor.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A bedroom with a bed and a painting on the wall.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A blue and white tiled floor in a bathroom.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A bathroom with a green and white tiled floor.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A hallway with a coat rack and a bag hanging on a pegboard.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

A living room with a sofa, chairs, and ottomans.

Photography © Max Burkhalter

An image of a hallway with white walls and a rug.

A bathroom with marble counter tops and a mirror.

A bathroom with a towel hanging on the wall.

A close up of a wooden door with a tiled floor.

A bathroom with a tiled floor and a door.

Design Concept

The design concept for the Carnegie Hill apartment aimed to seamlessly transform the space into a fluid and elegant modern home. Daring architectural and aesthetic choices were made to preserve and accentuate the grandeur of the apartment. Careful consideration was given to materiality and volume, resulting in a poured terrazzo floor and cerused oak millwork.

Custom furniture and furnishings were designed to emphasize mutability, tactility, and elegance.

Layout and Circulation

Optimizing circulation and creating interconnected living areas were key considerations in the layout of the recently renovated 4,000-square-foot residence on Park Avenue.

MKCA Michael K. Chen Architecture reshaped the apartment’s plan to accommodate the busy lives of the New York family.

The pinwheel-shaped circulation zone at the core of the apartment allows for easy access to various living spaces, including the formal living room, dining room/library, den, and bedrooms.

Doors can be pivoted and slid away, allowing for flexible room configurations as needed.

Custom Features and Furniture

Custom features and furniture in the recently renovated Park Avenue residence include a liquor cabinet, home office, and concealed television integrated into the cerused oak millwork, showcasing a seamless blend of functionality and elegance.

The millwork volumes open to reveal these hidden features, demonstrating attention to detail and thoughtful design. This integration allows for a clutter-free and visually pleasing space while maintaining the overall aesthetic and sophistication of the apartment.

These custom elements add both practicality and beauty to the residence.

Materiality and Finishes

Materiality and finishes in the recently renovated Park Avenue residence evoke a sense of refined luxury. The space features poured terrazzo flooring, cerused oak millwork, rosy Venetian plaster, pink Byzantine onyx, Calacatta Vagli Rosato marble, and a custom pattern of curving brass spacers. These materials and finishes were carefully considered to add a touch of sophistication to the space. The result is a visually stunning and captivating environment that exudes timeless beauty.