In today’s modern world, we have been given a new challenge that is promised to benefit our lives, the lives of those to come after us, and the very planet we occupy. This challenge—or solution shall we say—is the movement to go green. This movement…this revolution, has become a factor in everything from the materials designers use to fabricate garments, to the way we recycle, to the types of bottles used to hold hairspray. It seems that every aspect of our existence has made an effort towards sustainability.
Recently, we came across a luxurious condominium in a downtown Manhattan building that has gone green to the fullest extent of the word, as has the woman who helped the homeowners accomplish that feat. Susan Huckvale Arann, CID, of American & International Designs, Inc. was commissioned by a previous client of hers to help design the interior of their luxury high-rise condominium in the Millennium Towers Residences Battery Park, located at 30 West Street. This building—part of the Ritz Carlton Residences Properties—is not your average New York building. In fact, it is the very first luxury green high-rise condominium complex in the city (as required by the Battery Park City authorities’ environmental guidelines). Each resident is given a green-living brochure in their welcome kit upon moving in, and environmentally-efficient components are integrated into the construction, management, and everyday operations of the towers. Eco-friendly products are in abundance, such as Viking Ranges, Miele dishwashers, and Sub Zero refrigerators. The residents also benefit from energy-efficient electric usage; each unit has a master switch at the front entrance that allows them to turn off all overhead lighting and switch outlets with just a single flick. The building itself has solar-electric rooftop panels and relies heavily on recyclable construction materials, including steel, wood, and even concrete, drawn primarily from local sources. Each unit has fresh-ducted air that has been adjusted for desired year-round humidity levels, and has been filtered to remove 85% of all outside particulates, soot, and airborne toxins. The building is also expected to use 33% less water than a comparable non-green building, as it features on-site recycling of wasted water to supply flush water for toilets. Management further insists that all cleaning and maintenance of the building be done with only green products.
When Huckvale Arann was commissioned to design the interior of one of towers’ apartments, she was thrilled to accept the job. She has been designing in the green idiom long before the current movement became a part of most of our everyday lives. She has designed many medical facilities, doctors’ offices, and the like over the years, and for these jobs especially, she always made an effort to consider energy use and air quality. “I was happy to be used for this project,” she says. “Going green has always been incorporated into my practice, so this was a natural…as it were.”
The apartment has Brazilian cherry-wood floors and impressive 9-foot ceilings with floor-to-ceiling windows, providing enviable views of the Hudson River waterfront and its surrounds—the Statue of Liberty, the iconic Colgate sign in New Jersey, Battery Park, and the Ferry, of course. And to get a closer look at some of these remarkable views, the apartment features a balcony and a terrace. The living room itself is all about “comfort and view,” according to Huckvale Arann. Therein, she used an oversized walnut cocktail table with hidden storage, orange channel-back chairs that swivel for a 360-degree view of the magnificent space, a gold and silver patina accent table, and a lamp with a cognac-colored Lucite base to achieve a warm, yet contemporary feel. The extra-deep Holly Hunt Bulioga sofa with walnut arms is fabricated in part from eco-friendly cotton-linen, adding a suitable mix of luxury, comfort, and environmentalism to the space.
The walls of the apartment are painted in Benjamin Moore Eco Spec, which is low in volatile organic compounds (man-made and naturally-occurring chemical compounds that off-gas into living spaces, often considered hazardous to indoor air quality). “I have a particular way of placing color in all the interiors I work with,” says Huckvale Arann. “You will rarely see just a 2-color project in my portfolio. This space was challenging because I was playing towards the view of the waterfront, so I needed to warm the interior.” To accomplish this, she chose a color palette of gold, charcoal, light gray, and orange...with accents of purple. The window treatments are Hunter Douglas silhouette shades in silver metallic, allowing for both shade and glare control, while giving an understated, elegant appearance. “I chose this product for the simplicity in its beauty,” she adds, noting that the shades are also equipped with energy-efficient motors.
The galley kitchen features Pietra Bedonia stone slab counters, an etched glass backslash, and horizontal rift-cut white oak wood and frosted glass cabinetry. Huckvale Arann used the accent color to outline the translucent glass-panel cabinets, and the Brazilian cherry floor was installed horizontally to enlarge the space. Two swivel counter stools covered in orange ultra suede were added for extra seating.
One of the challenges the designer faced was where to put the dining area. Most people would just float it in the room, however her solution was to “maximize the space by lining up the table with the wall, giving more room in the walkways.” The table top is laminated glass painted white, and features a recycled steel base that Huckvale Arann designed herself. The leather chairs were imported from Italy, and a wall sconce and simple image were added to the wall to warm up the area. “I purposely chose items that appear to float and blend into the space, and that are light and comfortable,” she says.
The client specifically wanted an organic feel to the space, therefore wood was used for floors, table, sofa arms, etc. Most of the accessories are pottery the clients had purchased in their travels overseas.
The mood of this space changes dramatically from day to night. During the day it is bright and airy, and there is always movement outside, and Huckvale Arann felt it important to eliminate all visual clutter for this reason. When night falls, the space has a twinkle to it...a glamorous feeling. “At night the city becomes the backdrop. It is the artwork,” she says. Part of the visual drama is attributable to the lack of solid walls in the living area, and lighting was a critical consideration. Of course, energy-saving lighting products were selected, as “…saving energy is always a concern when making any selections.”
Huckvale Arann’s resources and training also guided her in the selection and placement of furniture and accessories. Part of the stylizing process for the client consisted of finding and introducing green products such as the grass clippings on the cocktail table, organic wall coverings made from Kenaf and recycled newspaper and magazines, and organic fabrics that both look good and wear well.
What the designer reportedly enjoyed most about this project was that she was able to watch it from the ground up. “My clients embraced the green lifestyle and movement from the beginning,” Huckvale Arann says. “They inspired me, and I feel I made a difference without minimizing any design decisions.” The principles of environmental design were employed from the very beginning, and she had the opportunity to review the mechanical plans even before the first wall went up. “My favorite is the air quality in the space,” she adds. “The climate control was a challenge in previous buildings in which I’ve worked in the city—even in apartments with considerable price points. Most clients are simply not happy with the air quality and noise in their particular environment. This building met both of those challenges in a way that is both practical and very efficient.”
To Huckvale Arann, efforts to use green products are not just an intellectual exercise; they prove that great design doesn’t have to be hindered by an eye towards sustainability. The end result is both visually gratifying and an example for future home buyers and developers to follow. •
Susan Huckvale Arann CID
American & International Designs, Inc.
1110 South Ave., S.I.,
347.273.1364
www.designamericanyc.com
