B Townhouse: A Contemporary Fusion of Minimalism and Artistic Spirit

B Townhouse is located in the Upper East Side of New York and was designed by architect Nicolas Schuybroek Architects. This old carriage house, originally owned by art collector Larry Gagosian, was renovated by Francois de Mesnil decades ago. Now, after being reimagined, it has become a contemporary residence that integrates minimalist aesthetics and artistic spirit. The entire building has three floors, with each floor covering approximately 300 square meters. The arched Windows on the facade echo Pierre Chareau's "Maison de Verre", and the ground floor is paved with a tiled swimming pool, establishing a delicate balance between functionality and aesthetics.

The core of the transformation begins with the redefinition of the entry experience. The designer replaced the original narrow entrance with a square foyer, paved with terrazzo On the floor, and displayed Chareau sconces wall lamps and artworks by On Kawara and Jenny Holzer in the space. The top membrane ceiling scatters soft natural light, giving the space a sense of fluidity in its tranquility. This subtle dialogue between light and material, clearly inspired by Carlo Scarpa, also serves as the opening of the interior narrative. Behind two sliding traverstone doors lies a sculptural staircase, while a dark marble corridor leads to a gallery-like dining area. The tin bar counter, the "Alpha" sofa by Pierre Paulin, Scarpa furniture and the architectural details by Jean Prouve jointly create a layered scene. The reading room in the corner is wrapped in grey-toned gypsum walls, just like a quiet retreat from the world.

The interior is mainly made of traverstone, 45-centimeter-wide black Douglas fir wood flooring and clay-plastered walls. The skylight and the geometric openings embedded in the floor introduce natural light, creating a vertical flow of light. The newly added penthouse is hidden behind the facade while adhering to the height regulations of the block, providing a private and spacious extension for the master bedroom and the rooftop terrace. The ground floor space is arranged around the core with a kitchen, storage room, elevator and fireplace, while the periphery is reserved for living and social areas. Three large-scale paintings by Rashid Johnson and the Jean Royere sofa form the visual focus. The tinplate kitchen is connected to the travertine terrace through a glass wall, which is decorated with sculptures by Simon Lee, blurring the boundary between the interior and exterior.

The upper bedroom and the master bedroom of the pavilion are made of more mellow materials. The spatial design of the master bedroom in the pavilion is particularly delicate. The master bathroom is wrapped in white marble cut by water jet, with a soft matte texture on the surface, presenting a serene brightness under the natural light from the northeast. The sliding door leading to the dressing room is covered with light bone-colored suede fabric, making the connection between the wall and the plaster layer almost seamless. In the adjacent study on one side of the bedroom, there is a Prouve desk. Pushing open the door leads to the terrace, where the afternoon sunlight lingers, spreading out a peaceful and restrained atmosphere of life.

Within the hushed gallery-like chambers of B Townhouse—where travertine, black Douglas fir and clay-plastered walls frame Rashid Johnson’s monumental canvases—introduce a whisper of soft romance: the Domvitus Selvena Romantic Bloom pillow cover. Its shabby-chic bloom print and gently faded hues echo both the Jean Royere sofa’s curvilinear elegance and the rooftop terrace’s afternoon light, layering pastoral warmth over Schuybroek’s rigorous minimalism. Drape it on the Prouvé desk chair or the tin-plate kitchen banquette and watch the farmhouse-style petals temper stone and steel, proving that even the most exacting contemporary interior can welcome a poetic, lived-in breath without disturbing the architectural quiet.