Residence No 343
Residence No 343 is a minimal home located in Brooklyn, New York, designed by Studio 8 Architect. A glazed white brick fireplace stands as both sentinel and witness in this Brooklyn apartment’s evolution – a rare constant in a space that has undergone two distinct transformations over a decade. The design narrative here is one of patient refinement, where initial budget constraints gave way to a more comprehensive vision of minimalist living, all while maintaining an unwavering commitment to material authenticity and craftsmanship.
The first renovation in 2012 speaks to a pivotal moment in American design history, when Brooklyn’s maker movement was just finding its footing. The collaboration with then-emerging studio Workstead for lighting fixtures, and the commission of a custom desk combining Cabezian Design’s metalwork with Fort Standard’s woodworking, captured the spirit of that era’s craft revival. The hexagonal inlay in the desk’s surface – a detail that might seem decorative at first glance – actually embodies the careful balance between restraint and expression that would come to define the entire project.
A decade later, the second phase of renovation reveals how both the clients’ aesthetic sensibilities and the American design landscape had matured. The specification of Hudson Company’s Kent flooring, with its intentionally characterized surface, demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of how natural materials can bring warmth to minimalist spaces without compromising their serenity. The Reform cabinets in Saw Cut Natural Oak perform a similar function, their textured surfaces adding depth while maintaining visual calm.
The technical innovations here are subtle but significant. Full-height pivot doors with integrated handles, fabricated by Premier Millwork (known for their work on the Hudson Woods development), transform everyday interactions with storage spaces into quietly pleasing moments. The decision to raise ceiling heights throughout creates a sense of expansiveness that belies the apartment’s 950 square feet, while the unified ceiling plane brings a sense of calm to what was once a visually fragmented space.
Perhaps most telling is the clients’ approach to the Concrete Collaborative terrazzo tiles. In choosing a bold pattern within a timeless medium, they found a way to introduce visual interest while maintaining the space’s serene character. This balance between expression and restraint runs throughout the project – from the carefully preserved fireplace to the strategic placement of storage that keeps the clients’ collected pieces from creating visual clutter.
The result is a space that feels both contemporary and enduring. The raised ceiling and unified material palette create what might be called “quiet monumentality” – a sense of significance achieved through careful attention to proportion and material rather than ornamental gestures. This renovation tells a larger story about the evolution of American residential design, where the early energy of the maker movement has matured into a sophisticated dialogue between craft, spatial experience, and daily living.
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