Hasta La Ideas

Brooklyn-based Caliper Studio has renovated the former home and studio of American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, adding a rooftop sculpture garden and a pair of “eyebrow-shaped” skylights.

The two buildings were originally constructed as a garage and metal shop in New York’s Greenwich Village, before the late artist converted them into a residence and workspace in the 1980s. After his death, the studio was handed over to the Lichtenstein Foundation for preservation, but the apartment remained the home of Lichtenstein’s widow Dorothy.

Architects and metalworkers Caliper Studio were asked to make a number of interior and exterior changes to the jumble of buildings, including additions to the studio, the insertion of a new garden and the renovation of a penthouse office and guest apartment.

To bring natural light into the studios, the architects constructed two curved steel skylight modules, using a concrete spray technique to build up the curved body of each structure.

They then covered a total of eight rooftops with sedum grass, artificial hills and decking to create the elevated garden, creating a new home for the Lichtenstein sculptures Brushstrokes and Endless Drip. Timber pathways lead out towards an elevated viewing platform.

Above: artwork © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein

For the guest apartment and penthouse, new structures were built using dark grey brickwork and timber louvres.

Above: artwork © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein

We’ve featured a number of artists’ studios on Dezeen, including four on a remote Canadian island and one beneath a railway viaduct in London. See more art and design studios.

See more recent projects in New York, including an apartment with a tubular steel slide and the new offices for social network Foursquare.

Photography is by Ty Cole.

Here’s some extra information from Caliper Studio:

West Village Residence and Artist Studio

A renovation at the studio of the late artist Roy Lichtenstein includes 3,000SF planted roof and sculpture garden.

A new sculpture garden connects the 2nd floor roof level of two existing buildings used by the late artist Roy Lichtenstein and his family. Still the West Village home of his widow, Dorothy, the new garden features two of Roy Lichtenstein’s outdoor sculptures. The project also includes the renovation of a guest apartment and penthouse office with views of the garden.

The planted roof’s sedum carpet partially covers two eyebrow skylights over the artist studio below. Designed to modulate light, the thin shell skylights were built using innovative fabrication technologies. Their complex geometry was realized through computer milled formwork coupled with a sprayed‐on concrete technique often used in the construction of tunnels.

Preservation of the artist’s studio was a primary design objective of the project. Careful technical detailing of the building’s envelope help ensure the longevity of the studio. The quality of the space and its character has been maintained through original artifacts including the artist’s built‐in wall easel system and paint‐splattered floor.

Above: artwork © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein

Planted Berm Skylight

Caliper Studio designed, detailed and installed these steel and glass skylights. In addition to the steelwork, Caliper also worked closely with Riverside Builders to ensure that the sprayed concrete shell construction would meet the exacting tolerance of the skylights.

Above: artwork © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein

To that end, Caliper Studio provided an accurate 3D model that was used directly for CNC milling of the formwork. Automated drawing procedures developed in-house also aided the fabrication of the complex system of steel reinforcing buried in the concrete.

Architect: Caliper Studio
Structural Engineer: Gilsanz Murray Steficek

MEP Engineer: D’Antonio Consulting Engineers
Waterproofing Consultant: James Gainfort

Landcape Design: VertNY
General Contractor: Riverside Builders

Above: planted berm skylight fabrication

Above: planted berm skylight installation

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