3SIX0 Architecture

Paschke Danskin Double Loft

Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography

PASCHKE DANSKIN DOUBLE LOFT

3six0 Architecture

PHOTOGRAPHS
John Horner Photography

YEAR
2009

LOCATION
Providence, United States

CATEGORY
Loft

Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography

An artist and her engineer husband had recently purchased a loft in Providence's jewelry district.3six0 Architecture was asked to convert the loft into a live/work area for the two individuals, maintaining distinct spaces to be uniquely designed for each client.

Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography

The "double loft" owners challenged 3six0 to acknowledge their long and committed relation, while celebrating their uniqueness and personal penchants.

Programmatically, most spaces remain separate and duplicate; a sun room, entry, and utility room are the only spaces planned with equal access.

Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography

Before the loft could read coherently, it had to be divided.

The trapezoidal geometry of the untreated space, determined by the surrounding urban fabric, had plenty of bumps, angles, and awkwardly located columns to impose any simple division of the space.

A long-angled side skewed to the column grid accommodated his affinity for the most difficult and dynamic condition, while the simplicity of the traditional columned area appealed to her receptivities.

Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography

She likes illuminated, airy, and serene spaces; he likes raw materials, grilling steaks and working on cars.

From those clues, 3six0 developed two architectural characters, "cloud" and "stack." "Cloud" floats, grows down from the ceiling, has soft rounded corners and appears seamless, immaterial, white, or translucent. 

"Stack" is very constructed; you can see the parts, the angular adjustments and the material, usually wood or mdf with steel details.

Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography

The two loft spaces were organized by mingling cloud and stack into walls and storage spaces.

Each character is positioned accordingly, stack on his side and cloud on hers, however, one is never in isolation from the other.

Casework and detailing continue the conversation between hers and his (cloud and stack). His casework was literally conceived as stacked volumes slowly spreading and transforming from closed cabinets to open shelves.

Paschke Danskin Double Loft
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography

On her side the casework continues the stack abstractly, modified with glass doors and a more monolithic expression.

Cloud wanders through both spaces and negotiates between the two sides. Her bedroom is a nest, gently embraced in cloud; on his side cloud pushes through stack, tempering the long mdf and steel living room wall.

The architectural spaces of the double lofts are designed to support and represent the independent arrangements of this couple. The opposing elements (cloud and stack) provide a language for the two individual and intertwined lives.

Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography


Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
© John Horner Photography


Paschke Danskin Double Loft
model
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
plan


Paschke Danskin Double Loft
Elevation
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
Elevation
Paschke Danskin Double Loft
Elevation

3SIX0 Architecture
T +1 401 4214360
3SIX0 Architecture
146 Westminster St, Providence, RI 02903, United States