Höweler + Yoon: Davol Loft
Located in Boston, the Davol Loft by Höweler + Yoon was created by combining two 1,100 sf loft spaces on the top floor of a building in Chinatown. The two lofts were mirror images of one another, organized around a central core and separated by a partition wall.

The new space is was created through the insertion of an 8′x8′ courtyard into the space, along with two skylights / lightwells [check out that section above]. These combine to add a ton of additional natural light to the loft – while the courtyard space also provides an opportunity to experience the ‘outside’ while living downtown.

The most interesting aspect of the courtyard is how it’s completely contained within the loft space. Located off of the kitchen space, the 8′x8′ space is a mixture of inside+out in that it is exposed to all the elements and brings them inside the loft. On a rainy/snowy day you can look out across/through the courtyard and back into the loft, viewing the opposite space as if through a lens dependent on the weather. The choice in materials also aids in this blending of inside + out, as Höweler + Yoon used reused Tauari [a red South American Mahogany] slats for the kitchen wall – which slip past/through the glass wall into the courtyard and climb the wall up onto the roof to form the deck.

The other interesting feature of the courtyard is it’s introspective nature. Rather than a terrace/balcony space that looks out onto the surrounding neighborhood/city, the courtyard frames a private and secluded view of the sky – with walls high enough [it appears] to block all views of the surrounding buildings.
The other two insertions into the space – the skylights/lightwells – occur in the bathroom. The skylights illuminate an acid etched glass-enclosed shower + bathtub, which both bathe the user in light while creating glowing volumes that bring additional natural light into the bedroom and study.


Previous posts on Höweler + Yoon on architecture.MNP:
ADLS 18.02.2008: Höweler + Yoon
Related posts:
- Höweler + Yoon Videos
- Winka Dubbeldam: Schein Loft
- Höweler + Yoon on Boston City Hall 2.0
- Lorcan O’Herlihy Architects : Gardner 1050
- ADLS 18.02.2008: Höweler + Yoon
Posted: February 21st, 2008
at 5:00am by orangemenace
Categories: architecte de la semaine, architecture, featured ninjas, housing, interiors
Comments: 2 comments
2 Responses to 'Höweler + Yoon: Davol Loft'
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Nice, clean design. It reminds me of an Enrique Norten building that I toured in Mexico City. I particularly like the high grade of finishes coupled with the various opacities blurring the programmatic spaces.
Marc Joseph
21 Feb 08 at 12:21 pm
I think im in love, it’s so seductive! The introapective nature is captivating, separated from its surroundings, and the bath with the light well . . fantastic i want one!
Sarah
25 Feb 08 at 4:49 pm