Located on a 25-acre valley compound in northern Dutchess County, the Client wanted to build a guesthouse to hold his growing extended family.  We chose a sight on a low rise with a seasonal creek and southern views of a beautiful marshland. The simple two-story volume has a large open kitchen dining & living area with ample storage and separate den/guest room.  Upstairs has 4 bedrooms and two shared baths. Additional features include: a full basement; a two story porch, all season on lower level and screened upstairs; a reading nook/window seat above the main entry; a large open deck on the south side, and an outdoor shower.

This Westchester family compound is set on twenty-five wooded acres with three connecting ponds. The buildings, including a main house, a cottage, and a pool house, which had been neglected over the years. The challenge was to blend the three disparate structures into a coherent architecture that would reflect a regional style. The original shape of the main house, and many of its details, was masked by an unfortunate renovation in the 1980s. We began by replacing the existing mansard roof and adding a front porch to connect the main house to a new garage structure. This created an informal drive court overlooking the large pond. Above the new garage, a yoga studio opens out to the wood beyond.The small cottage had been expanded haphazardly over the years.  We removed an extension off the back of the cottage and reconfigured the roof to give more light and space within. We embraced the cottage character of the project, including simple detailing of the open porches and an asymmetry to the window & door placement.  The existing pool house was a concrete block structure that also acted as a storage shed for equipment. We raised the walls to let in additional light through clerestory windows and replaced the roof.  A main entertaining space now opens onto a terrace with expansive views.  The new pitched roof, cedar siding and a pergola structure help integrate this renovation with the overall character of the site.

The project was to renovate and expand a 1940’s cape outside the village of Sag Harbor.  The new program called for ample entertainment space, greater sleeping capacity and a large front porch. Working within a relatively modest budget and a constricted site, we were able to maintain the original house template building on the existing foundation, expanding only as needed. We added a second floor to create guest rooms and a family room with views of the harbor. Within the new roof structure, we included an upstairs deck.  A two-story foyer brings in abundant natural light. The front porch wraps two sides of the house, highlighting the entry and tempering the scale of the house.  Outside, we created an expanded outdoor gathering space with a Jacuzzi, a traditional outdoor shower and a stone terrace.

The challenge of this project was to add a separate guest quarters to a classic modernist house with sweeping views of both the Catskills and Berkshire mountains in rural Columbia County.  The existing 2 story house was connected by a car port & raised deck to a separate office & guest suite.  We added a third structure to the mix connecting it with the raised deck and anchoring the ensemble with a stair tower creating a small village.  Our guest house mirrors the main house with public spaces on the upper level taking advantage of the sweeping views. A 1 story three season porch mediates between the raised deck and the house.  The stair tower at the far end connects the private lower level with an office mezzanine overlooking the main living area. The guest house is rotated to take advantage of southern light and orchard views in the adjacent valley.

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On the top floor of the Corinthian Condominium Tower on the East side of Manhattan, this penthouse apartment has breathtaking views and access to a private roof terrace. The project was to create a light and open floor plan while addressing a full program including ample entertainment space, a Master suite with his &amp; her baths, a small study, and a separate daughter’s suite.<br><br>We designed the two-bedroom suites at opposite ends of the public space. In order to make the most of the living -dining areas we placed the study and working portion of the kitchen into a service spine along the back wall of the apartment. The study opens onto the entry foyer with a sliding walnut panel.  The entertainment bar, highlighted by a waterfall marble counter, defines the dining and kitchen area.  Circulation is articulated by a change in ceiling plane, which organizes the path from roof stair to master suite.  A combination of rich materials and minimal detailing accentuates the sweeping views of this rooftop apartment.<br><br>Photography by Giles Ashford

After purchasing the adjacent studio apartment, our Client who works from home asked us to design a more functional living &amp; work space.  We opened up the kitchen to the living area, created an ample entry foyer that allowed views through glass French doors to an Office/Guest Room.  A separate full bath was retained for guests while a private master suite was developed with a full bath, dressing area, and walk-in closet.<br><br>Photography by Giles Ashford

Located in the Wall Street section of the city, the Clients purchased the adjacent two-bedroom apartment to house their growing family. The challenge was to create a spacious loft-like apartment with ample public and private space within a very long, narrow footprint and a modest budget.  As the family grew, the Clients did a second expansion purchasing the adjacent one bedroom apartment.<br><br>Photography by Giles Ashford

While working out of a cramped basement office, Retro Report hired us to create a new home for their growing on-line documentary journalism company.  As our Client is often revisiting stories from the past gone cold, we looked back to the mid-century offices &amp; newsrooms to influence the design of a modern-day work space.  Program elements included a large open newsroom, multi-purpose meeting rooms, editing &amp; mixing rooms, a variety of break-out spaces, a large pantry &amp; café and a premier event space for film showings, lectures, &amp; other events.  We had the opportunity to salvage the existing wood clad elevator lobby adding new lighting and a custom designed floor pattern.  Open plan work stations combined with private work areas allowed for the variety of uses that were required to encourage critical thinking, discussion, and debate.<br><br>Photography by Giles Ashford

Founded in 1998 in New York City, TechSpace is a pioneer in the market of flexible office space providing some of the first flexible Office Solutions to the newly minted dot-com revolution. With current locations on the West Coast, Texas, DC Area and (4) New York City facilities, TechSpace has continued to adapt to this popular market as the trend toward free-lance, start-up and entrepreneurial work styles continues to grow.  DBA has been involved with TechSpace since 2000.  DBA designed 3 NYC locations and expanded the original Union Square location, helping to develop the brand identity. Each site has its own unique character, which we enhance, while maintaining the look and feel of the specific TechSpace brand.  We present images here from all (4) of the NYC locations showing the diversity of our solutions from past to present.<br><br>Photography by Giles Ashford

WorkHouse is a boutique Office Solution &amp; Co-Working Provider located in the historic Diamond District in midtown Manhattan. Begun is 2012, this project was built in 3 phases and encompasses 10 floors and a roof deck.  The rich material and color palates include reclaimed barn wood, steel sash windows and doors, and polished concrete floors. WorkHouse tenants are offered a variety of work &amp; meeting spaces that include: full office suites, single person offices, library tables, bar height counters, lounge areas with sofas and wing chairs, exterior porches including a roof deck. The top floor and main reception floor offers a coffee bar and large sky lit conference room.<br><br>Photography by Giles Ashford

DBA was asked to provide full Architectural Services from Pre?Design through Construction Administration to relocate the headquarters of this growing retail chain specializing in Lingerie.  The program design required space for the entire Journelle staff to sit at one main worktable to maximize connectivity, with additional private meeting spaces for more concentrated work needs.  A showroom for buyers was created that included private fitting rooms. We worked very closely with the Client to develop a finish palate to underscore the richness of the brand &amp; product. A third of the floor space was allocated for the shipping &amp; receiving department where all product was received prior to distribution to the retail outlets.<br><br>Photography by Giles Ashford

Overlooking a primary corner at the center of NYC’s Garment District, Space 530 offers flexible and short-term showroom &amp; office space serving the fashion industry.  Located at the site of a former bank, the space consists of a two-story main hall with a large mezzanine and an empty vault.  On entering the space, one is met with a large curved hand plastered wall that organizes the main circulation path set on a polished concrete floor.   In the main space the showrooms are pulled off the exterior window walls allowing sweeping views that culminate at the corner with a break-out and presentation space featuring custom seating. The showrooms all have decorative glass fronts with sliding glass doors and gallery-like lighting.  Separately, a Lounge and a Bar offer refreshments during the work day and help support events such as fashion shows and networking parties.  A steel open tread stair at Reception leads to the mezzanine level providing dramatic city views at this premiere midtown location.<br><br>Photography by Giles Ashford

This Spa Complex set in a breathtaking valley at the edge of an existing pool and gardens is located at the heart of the Menla Mountain Retreat Center in the Catskills.  The Spa offers a mixture of Tibetan and other holistic healing practices including massage, bodywork, and Ayurvedic treatments. The project includes: a two-story reception area with juice &amp; tea bar, men’s &amp; women’s spa rooms with saunas and soaking tubs, a private lounge with garden views, a variety of treatments rooms for massage and body work; a separate meditation room and gallery space. The Japanese and Tibetan inspired architecture also combines elements of local vernacular.  A continuous covered porch helps integrate the structure into the site while providing shade and cover.  The interiors were designed in collaboration with Clodagh Design Studio, a leader in the Spa &amp; Wellness field.

Sunham Home Fashions is an international bedding and home goods company with offices in China and New York. Relocating from a small 5-story building we were asked to reorganize the headquarters to a single floor at this Madison Avenue location.  The program required approximately 50% of the space be used for showroom space while the remainder be allocated for: executive suites, sales offices, open work areas, conference rooms, a design studio, an eat-in pantry and storage solutions for a variety of needs.  By utilizing the loft-like ceiling height and adding frameless glass fronts for offices and meeting rooms we were able to maximize natural light into the interior of this large floor plate.  The showroom portion was divided into a series of flexible spaces that could be sub-divided using movable partitions and display elements to allow for maximum flexibility.  As the showroom was used primarily 4 times a year, accommodations were made to allow these spaces to be used as overflow studio and meeting space between the quarterly markets.

In the first phase of this two-phase project we were asked to create a stand-alone showroom and event space for the North American Headquarters for this Paris based lingerie company.  Customers enter the showroom into a fabric lined Event Space echoing the signature Chantelle motif. On one side is a front desk check-in and bar.  At the opposite side is a small alcove with a historic brand display.  Walking through vestibules on either side of the Event Space leads to a pair of Showrooms separated by a velvet curtain allowing the Client to create a single large space if required.  Each showroom has a variety of display cabinets for storage and showcasing the product.  <br><br>In the second phase, the Client acquired additional space allowing for a connection between the main office and the showroom.  The feature of this new connecting space was a custom coffee bar and small meeting kiosk allowing semi-private meetings.

AMX, a leader in audio/visual control technology required an interactive setting where customers could experience real time use of their technologies and software applications. We worked closely with the Dallas based AMX team to produce an effective environment in this full-floor space, balancing a palette of rich materials with an efficient space layout to showcase this line of cutting edge technology.  Along with the interactive showroom, the space includes: a full-time training center, a regional sales office, a catering pantry and a boardroom with video conferencing capabilities.

For over 10 years, dba has been supporting the store development arm of the Polo Ralph Lauren as well as several of their brand licensees.  Beginning with a handbag shop at Macy’s Herald Square we completed over a dozen shops within shops in all the major NYC department stores.  While collaborating with the Polo’s Store Development Group our projects included: A Black Label shop at Saks, a Home and Men’s label shop at Lord &amp; Taylor, as well as several other Lauren brand shops at Macy’s and at Bloomingdales.<br><br>Photography by Giles Ashford

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