5 WorKshop design + architecture
Jason Allen and Lisa Chow IN PRACTICE SINCE: 2013 | HOME BASE: Carroll Gardens
BREAKOUT BUILDING: A trio of Cubiststyle 12-story residential buildings at 411-453 W. 35th St., just north of Hudson Yards. Currently under construction, the 312-unit project has one building with a bridge that connects the amenity spaces to the residences with views to a landscaped courtyard.
DESIGN ETHOS: Sustainability has always been a major influence for the duo, but Workshop D+A strives for much more. “We try to make the interior flexible and minimize wasted space in circulation,” says Chow. “We think about how families with small children might want a tub. We build around how people might furnish. And we try to work in storage everywhere, even in vertical spaces.”
SWEET SPOT: Family-friendly residences; the firm is now working on a 10,000-squarefoot townhouse on West 17th Street.
BALANCING ACT: “We have a lot of healthy debates,” says Allen. “But at the end of the day Lisa is my No. 1 critic and that works well for us. Our design strategy is aligned, so our differences are in the nuances.” As for separating work and pleasure: “We go home for a few hours, deal with the kids [ages 3 and 5] and then go back to work,” says Chow.
NEXT UP: 265 First St. in Park Slope, for developers HPDM, where each of the nine units has outdoor space and grand windows. Prices range from $1.45 million to $2.5 million ( 265first.com); and 10-unit rental at 349 Kent in Brooklyn breaking ground next year.