SO – IL adapts and transforms harlem building to realize artist studio for ghada amer

SO – IL has transformed the ruins of a burned down church in new york’s west harlem neighborhood, turning the building into a home, art studio, and gallery. designed for artist ghada amer, the project occupies a plot on frederick douglass boulevard, an avenue on the west side of manhattan. ‘our intervention involved the adaptation and transformation of the existing structure into a home, art studio, gallery, and social gathering space for amer and her partner,’ explain the architects.

all images by naho kubota

SO – IL’s design for ghada amer involved the construction of a new façade — an abstracted version of the previously existing elevation. responding to the heritage of the site and the surrounding neighborhood, the façade’s new openings reference the area’s arch windows without ‘ornamental obfuscation’. externally as well as internally, the project presents itself as a modern space for living culture and creativity.

a range of spaces have been created internally, with larger studio areas complemented by more secluded spaces for individual work. from the inside, the large windows ensure views and daylight, while a terrace on the building’s top floor provides important outdoor space. other recently featured projects by SO – IL include a house on long island’s north fork and a design for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that could result in faster and less expensive permitting.

the previously existing façade

a photograph of the building from the 1940s showing its original fenestration

project info:

name: harlem artist studio
location: harlem, new york
client: ghada amer
program: artist studio, living space, archive, office, gallery
design: 2014
completion: 2021
project area: 540 sqm / 5,800 sqf
SO – IL design team: florian idenburg, jing liu, illias papageorgious, pietro pagliaro, seunghyun kang, sanger clark
architect of records: andrew reyniak architect
structural engineer: laufs engineering design
MEP engineer: LL engineering P.C.
photography: naho kubota