Welcome Home Never Looked So Good
Mid-Century Modern Lobby Renovation
We restored the building lobby to honor the original design that encapsulates the spirit of the post-war possibility.
LOCATION: Brooklyn
CLIENT: Multi-Family Co-Op Board
OVERVIEW: Residential Lobby Renovation
COMPLETION DATE: 2022
SERVICES: Architecture, Interior Design
CONSULTANTS: Prudigm Engineering
Hallmarks of Mid-Century Modernism such as clean lines, soft curves, and minimalist materials were our lead. More than a single person, here our client was a Co-Op board.
The lobby of this charming Mid-Century Modern building located in a landmark historic district was looking old and drab, suffocating under heavy red carpet and bad lighting. The front door and charming oversized square window along Remsen Street allows the light from the street to stream into the vestibule and lobby. In the same way Modernism stripped away ornate and heavy designs of the past - we marked a departure from excess and focused on simplicity. We pulled off the carpet and chose a light colored terrazzo tile for the flooring.
We selected globe pendants with soft warm lighting. From the wood paneling down to the decorative screws with gold paint, we tended to every element in detail.
To keep the light flowing between the two interiors we installed a custom made decorative screen. The energy of the gold rectangles provides an easy transition from the public to the private.
The Mid-Century Modern movement was about embracing current technology and in this update, we were able to add air conditioning. To do this, we vented out and up from the basement - assuring the Landmarks Commission that none of this would be visible from the street. Anyone who’s experienced a wave of cool air after stepping in from a hot summer’s day will know this made residents cool and comfortable. This was the feeling they wanted. Even the art made sense again, belonging to the original context that was restored and improved.
“KBA transformed our lobby from what felt like an Amazon shipping and receiving center within a 1980’s doctor’s office waiting room to a warm, inviting, contemporary and functional space that I now truly enjoy coming home to every day.”
Catherine Jones
Co-op Board member during lobby renovation
Working with KBA on our Brooklyn Heights co-op lobby renovation project exceeded my expectations. From design concepting to construction coordination, Kimberly Brown, and her professional team, including Duncan Thomas, listened to our long list of needs and addressed our concerns. There was no detail too small for KBA. KBA created viable, well-thought-out, unique, visually appealing design solutions AND worked within our budget. I highly recommend Kimberly Brown and her KBA team.
Catherine Jones
Co-op Board member during lobby renovation
