SABO Project Renovates Manhattan Apartment with Rounded Partitions
A compact Lower East Side residence balances industrial materials with soft, rounded design elements.
1Design Philosophy and Layout
SABO Project redesigned a 728-square-foot Manhattan apartment to improve spatial flow for a family of three. By rounding the corners of walls and partitions, the studio aimed to soften the divisions between functional areas. This approach allows the central living room to feel as though it extends into surrounding alcoves.
2Industrial Materiality and Texture
The residence maintains an industrial aesthetic through the use of exposed breeze-block walls, metal ductwork, and polished concrete flooring. To balance these rough surfaces, the designers introduced soft textures including bespoke curtains, shades, and rugs. This contrast between masonry and fabric creates a cohesive, tactile environment throughout the entire home.
3Strategic Use of Color
A specific shade of mid-green serves as a unifying visual element across the apartment. This color is applied to steel structural beams, lower kitchen cabinets, curtains, and various artworks. The consistent application of this bold hue helps tie the different living zones together while adding a vibrant layer to the interior.
4Living Area Features
In the open-plan living space, a circular rug is mirrored by a white-painted circle on the ceiling. A bench constructed from stacked concrete blocks with arch-shaped openings runs from the main room into an outdoor space. This area is enclosed with light-filtering fabric and steel mesh to create a sun room.
5Outdoor and Transition Spaces
The sun room is accessible via sliding glass doors from the living area and remains visible from the kitchen through a fixed glazed panel. The space features green outdoor furniture from the Bouroullec brothers' Palissade collection. This transition zone effectively blurs the boundary between the interior living space and the outdoors.
6Bedroom and Private Quarters
The apartment includes two identically sized bedrooms, one for the parents and one for the child. Both rooms mirror the material palette of the main living areas. Custom nightstands are created by stacking breeze blocks on their sides, while green accents in the bedding maintain the home's established color scheme throughout.
7Bathroom Design Details
The bathroom utilizes white tiles with green grout that become progressively smaller toward the ceiling, creating a subtle gradient effect. Rounded forms are continued here through a lozenge-shaped mirror, a matching sconce, and a basin with filleted corners. These details reinforce the project's commitment to soft, curved architectural lines.
8Architectural Studio Background
Founded by architect Alexandre Delaunay, SABO Project operates between New York and Paris. The firm specializes in residential, commercial, and cultural projects. Their previous work includes a Brooklyn loft with clustered storage and various Parisian apartments featuring space-saving stairs and curved staircases, demonstrating a consistent focus on innovative, functional spatial solutions.