Architecture Wednesday: 1893 Renaissance Revival Loft

This home, this magnificent loft at 21 Bond Street stands within the NoHo Historic District of New York City as a remarkable example of late 19th-century commercial Renaissance Revival architecture. It was commissioned by real estate operator Leon Tannenbaum and designed by Buchman & Deisler in 1893, the six-story loft and store building—with one residence per floor with private keyed elevator—with a communal rooftop terrace and ownership of one-fifth of the ground-floor store was conceived as a modern interpretation of the Renaissance Revival style.

Its cast-iron storefront, framed by brownstone piers, Palladian-inspired second-story windows, and intricate rosettes set within a triangular pediment, reflects the decorative ambition of the era. Grouped openings on the upper floors—highlighted by terra-cotta fleurs-de-lis and a dramatic fanlight-style arch—complete the building’s elegant vertical rhythm beneath a classic iron cornice.

Originally conceived as a storefront-and-loft building, the residence was reimagined by a noted New York architect who stripped away Sheetrock, exposing the century-old brick and timber framing and added a massive new skylight at the center of the living room, drawing sunlight through 14-foot ceilings.

The flooring was replaced with Dinesen white oak planks, crafted from trees aged between 80 and 200 years and individually selected for their grain and proportion; each plank is joined with traditional oak butterfly joints, preserving the natural character and integrity of the wood. And antique European elements throughout the home introduce a sense of lived-in grandeur, like the addition of a Provençal-style mantel from the Paris flea market that anchors the living room fireplace.

The living room also features four oak-framed arched windows with blackout shades, 14-foot ceilings and exposed brick walls; a remote-controlled gas fireplace, an 11' × 10' operable skylight and a Sony projector with 125” motorized movie screen.

In the adjoining kitchen are high-end Miele appliances, custom oak cabinetry with antique chicken-wire glass, a Julien sink with integral drainboard and garbage disposal, marble countertops and vintage 1950s drafting chairs at the island.

The primary bedroom has South-facing steel windows with oak Venetian finish, 13-foot ceilings, a remote-controlled gas fireplace and floor-to-ceiling oak wardrobes with mirrored fronts. The primary bathroom has radiant-heated French terracotta floors, a deep porcelain cast-iron soaking tub, an antique Empire vanity with Belgian black-stone top, dual sinks and custom brass electric towel warmers; there are extra-large dual medicine cabinets, a heated toilet with bidet function and an operable window with motorized Lutron blackout shade

The three additional bedrooms each accommodate a king-size bed, feature built-in desks and divided oak wardrobes and solar-powered skylights with blackout shades. The secondary bathroom features heated French terracotta floors, an antique mahogany vanity with dual sinks, mirrored walls and walk-in glass shower, custom brass towel warmers and a heated toilet with bidet function.

The powder offers an operable skylight with blackout shade, along with heated French terracotta floors, a mahogany vanity with Belgian black-stone top, mirrored walls and heated toilet with bidet function.
There is also an in-home laundry room with both a large-load LG washer/dryer and a small-load Miele washer/dryer, an extra-large stainless-steel utility sink with professional spray faucet and a towel warmer for delicate items and clothing care. The home also features a Mitsubishi concealed central air system, Nest-controlled steam heat, Nest smoke and carbon monoxide detection, Lutron-controlled lighting, Dinesen solid European oak floors throughout dry areas, custom 8-foot-tall, 2-inch-thick oak doors and E.R. Butler & Co. Empire hardware throughout.

Seriously worth every penny of the nearly $9 million asking price.

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The Spaces

Architecture Wednesday: Alaska Buildings Warehouse Loft

On the top floor of the Alaska Buildings, a former industrial warehouse in Bermondsey, south-east London, you’ll find this lofty two-bedroom apartment that has been impeccably reimagined but retains its sense of history.

Set behind secure gates the Alaska Buildings make an arresting first impression as they are two former factories—one built in 1869, the other in 1932—that closed in the 1960s and then converted into apartments in the 1990s.

Entry is to the main lobby, with 24-hour concierge service and a large stone bar area for residents to gather for the annual summer, Halloween, and Christmas parties organized by management, Opposite the concierge desk is the post and parcel room, as well as a storage room for tenants.

This apartment is on the top floor, accessible via staircase. The apartment’s front door opens to a central hall. To the left is an impressive, open-plan reception room with kitchen, dining and sitting area. A soaring vaulted ceiling with exposed timbers lends an ecclesiastical quality, while steel framing reflects the building’s industrial origin. Two arched, south-easterly warehouse windows draw in abundant natural light and are complemented by additional skylights.

The kitchen runs along one side of the space, with black metal doors and reeded glass that echo the industrial theme and contrast well with the white countertops. A large central island provides space for casual dining though there is space for a proper dining area. Stairs ascend to a mezzanine where a custom-made bookcase conceals a large storage area accessed via a secret door. 

At the back of the apartment is the generous principal bedroom with an adjacent dressing area fitted with built-in cabinetry and a refined en suite bathroom finished with mosaic tiles and brass fittings with bathtub and shower. A second double bedroom lies just off the front door and has a concealed desk nook and a shared bathroom with walk-in shower.

The apartment includes a secure and allocated underground parking space and is available for £1,000,000 AKA $1.35 M USD.

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The Modern House

Architecture Wednesday: Tacony Saving Fund Safe Deposit & Title Company

This is the Tacony Saving Fund Safe Deposit & Title Company building at the corner of Tulip St and Longshore Ave in Philadelphia. Designed in a monumental style intended to instill confidence and trust in their customers, the building housed the trust on the first floor, a community library on the second, and a lodge room for Tacony Lodge No. 600 on the third.

Today the Tacony building is one of Philadelphia’s finest examples of adaptive reuse, offering the most discerning buyer a glorious melding of old and new, industrial and cozy, vintage and modern. Built in 1893, this handsome red brick building boasts prominent, full-story Sullivanesqe arched windows spanning both facades with a modern entrance at the west end.

Once inside, find everything you’d expect from such a commanding structure: sun-soaked open spaces, soaring ceilings, columns, steel beams, exposed ductwork and burnished metal. The patinaed hardwood floors, tin ceilings and vault honor the building’s previous lives and history and a freight elevator is a nod to turn-of-the-century industrial design.

At ground level is a spacious open floorplan filled with incredible architectural detail, yet uniquely suited to comfortable everyday living it features defined, cozy spaces while remaining open and loft-like. Here, a piano and music area take center stage against a backdrop of colorful art and plants. A gas fireplace in the corner reading nook anchors a cozy section of the room and provides a reprieve from the chill of crisp winter evenings.

The kitchen is practical and functional with painted black flooring, open shelving, and a door to the beautiful side garden. The industrial shelving, paper lantern light fixtures, wide transom windows, and corner fireplace meld seamlessly into the design of the room. A cheerful light-filled bedroom with a gold tin ceiling, an office, and a full bath fill out the main floor. Downstairs is a full basement with laundry, a workshop with elevator access.

On the second floor is a creative’s dream. Statement arched windows line the south wall, flooding the floor with natural light. Formerly the Jack Costello Boxing Club, this space holds a rich history in the neighborhood. A wide-open blank slate with columns and soaring ceilings allow for endless uses: a workshop, painting or ceramics studio, and gym are just a few ideas. A guest suite with a full kitchen and half bath are open to allow light to bounce throughout the space.

The third floor is currently home to a full-service recording studio carefully designed around the principles of room acoustics. A state-of-the-art control room and monitoring station, soundproof isolation booth, and a spectacular live room with exposed ductwork and vaulted tongue and groove ceilings create a wow factor. Also included on the floor is a traveling musician’s guest suite complete with a kitchenette, sunny bedroom, an office, and a renovated full bath.

Nestled in the Tacony a historic neighborhood along the Delaware River you’ll find a vibrant community with a rich history, industrial heritage, and a strong sense of civic pride. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016, the Tacony Disston District is distinguished by its large park and trail system and train access to New York and Philadelphia. In a neighborhood rife with historic architecture, this adaptive reuse is an architectural marvel. A truly exceptional property with charm and thoughtful renovations in a soul-filled building.

And for just $1M USD.

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Dwell