Located off the coast of the Peconic River, between the North and South forks on Long Island in the state of New York, Shelter Island is accessible only by ferry. While during the summer months the island’s population swells to over 10,000 year-round residents total only about 2,300.

Eco House is located on a one acre plot of land located at the edge of the wooded Shelter Island Heights on the Northside of the island above Crescent beach, with Amazing water views and the ravishing sunsets. The two structures built on the site are independent but share The interior “piazza" a link between the Main Eco House and the Pool House, it acts as a connecting communal space for socializing and relaxing. The vineyard creates a buffer zone between the saltwater swimming pool area and the road below.

Eco House, The Main building is 2025 Sq/ft, comprising a large Living Room, Kitchen and Dining area straight off the Main Entry. Along the long East/ West facades are porches, accessible from the large sliding glass window doors typical in the entire house, providing ample daytime light and views to outdoors lush gardens seamlessly connecting inside and outside. The Master Bedroom and Master Bath are located on the Northside providing privacy. Two additional bedrooms, one acting as a tv room, one guest room, are on the south side of the house with en suite baths.

The Pool House is 1,380 sq/ft with two spacious bedrooms and two baths on the top floor, a pool house Living Room/ Kitchenette, Full Bath and Sauna on the intermediate pool level adjacent to the large wood deck, it serves as a second socializing area on hot summer days.

The two-car garage 750 sq/ft is at the lower level with a connecting interior and exterior stair. The house is equipped with 2 electric car chargers, one in Garage and one on upper-level Eco House parking area. Back up batteries for emergency storage of electricity from solar panels.

The Architect Studio the third and final building on the site. It is a 300 sq/ft independent edifice with its own power supply from solar panels on the roof which account for its energy use. It is cantilevered over the sloping terrain to leave natural grasses to fill the landscape.

The house is built out of concrete, the facades articulated by design to create a pattern, but mostly used for rapidity of construction, durability, and ease of upkeep. The upper portion of the Pool House is clad with Cedar horizontal variable width and depths siding boards, they are a salute to the local building vernacular used on Shelter island.

The house is intended to minimize its carbon footprint, by providing solar electricity for heating/cooling and other usages on one hand and ultra-efficient means of constructions to maximize conservation. All the main house horizontal outside surfaces are utilized for Porches with shading provided by cantilevered canopies on the east and west sides. A circular stair on Northside of the house leads to the flat roof of Eco House. A Mahogany wood Deck from which the Peconic River is visible allows for a stunning 4th of July party. A vegetable garden surrounds the deck adjacent to Solar panels. The Electricity generated by the sun keeps the house warm via the radiant floor heating system during colder months and charges the family electric cars.

Design By Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Architect vibeke Lichten registered PA. NY. AMDP

Status: complete 2018

Photos: Evan Joseph

Consulting engineers: Keystone Structural Group Inc.

consulting civil engineer: Matt Sherman

Publications:

Concrete Houses

Dezeen

World Architecture

Residential Design

Jyllands Posten

Deco Magazine

Video:

Aerial Flyover

LUXE.TV (English version)

LUXE.TV (French version)

Open house tours

Awards Nominations:

HIVE50 Innovative/Disruptive sustainable buildings 2019

New construction for residence in Croton on the Hudson.

The site is entered via a winding gravel drive through meadow grasses and lilacs up to a framed view of the Hudson River through the carport. The lightness and reflectivity of the façade enhance the reading of a hovering volume in the sky, resting on just a few thin steel columns. Located on one of Croton-on-Hudson’s highest overlooks, the house was conceived around maximizing panoramic views of the town and river below via floor-to-ceiling windows across the rear façade.While more limited windows openings along the front maintain privacy from the drive, while allowing natural daylight to flood the interiors of the house.

Design By Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Contract documents and construction Supervision By Others.

The design and grounds up construction of 6 luxury apartments in Tribeca, Manhattan. The building is comprised of 5 duplex apartments and one penthouse triplex with additionally a private roof terrace and jacuzzi. A private Elevator services all Penthouse 4 floors. Environmentally minded construction elements have been used throughout the building, such as solar panels on the roof, and responsibly harvested IPE wood decking on balconies and terraces. The apartments have duplex loft style layouts to maximize light and create beautifully spatial living areas.

New York, NY

Design By Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Contract documents and construction Supervision By Others.

Status: Completed

Photography: Rich Caplan

Client: A2 Investment Group

The total renovation of an apartment in the pre-war “Hotel des Artistes” building on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The apartment was designed in a contemporary, modern style for the display of an extensive art collection. A mezzanine area was added providing a den TV area and library to house a large collection of books and sculptural turned wood pieces. The railing was custom fabricated, along with the custom designed central stair that leads up to the second story of the duplex to maximize the double height ceiling and openness of the apartment.

New York, NY

Design By Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Status: Completed

Photography: Evan Joseph

Client: Hotel Des Artistes Resident

Over 80,000 square feet of industrial zone on the edge of philadelphia were renovated into mixed-use residential and commercial properties. This full city block includes 6 story loft building converted industrial spaces originally built for the Bokel metal Sheets fabrication facilities. The two townhouses, one dating back to the late 1800’s and one recently built, converted into 4 apartments with adjacent parking spaces. The third building a 30′ wide historic warehouse was converted into an art gallery on the first floor, and a modern and sleek loft apartment on the second floor. The wood turning center occupies the 4,400 sq/ft ground floor and cellars, with exposed brick and original wood flooring.The buildings were in a state of disrepair after long periods of vacancy and the scope of the work included a full gut renovation requiring updating of all systems in the building, repairing of failure in the structural systems, as well as bringing the buildings up to code.

A parking lot was paved to provide on site parking for all new commercial and residential occupants.

Philadelphia, PA

Design By Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Status: Completed

The design and conversion of a second floor office space into an open concept loft in Old City Philadelphia. Preserving the exposed brick and integrating original features of the building into the new layout allow for an expansive and contemporary feel. The apartment has two custom bathrooms, with steam room and jacuzzi tub, as well as a library, gourmet kitchen and parking.

Philadelphia, PA

Status: Completed

The design of a bakery cafe in Philadelphia, incorporating a green wall with sleek and elegant design. Located just off Rittenhouse Square in Center City, the cafe offers an airy and comfortable space for eating, meeting and enjoying the streetscape. The design integrates green features, including environmentally friendly engineered Walnut wall boards along with the green wall.

Philadelphia, PA

Design By Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Status: Completed

Photography: Kyle Born

Remodeling of a Philadelphia residence with the addition of a new luxury gourmet kitchen, providing generous pantry, home office, and total integration into the existing home. The open kitchen provides ample prep space for cooking, as well as dining, as the cantilevered Italian granite surface transitions from counter top to table for six. A new opening was constructed to maximize natural light and ventilation in the space, while maintaining continuity with the rest of the home. Gourmet appliances such as a Subzero oven, Viking cooktop and Berloni Italian milled cabinetry were used throughout.

Philadelphia, PA

Design By Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Status: Completed

Photography: Kyle Born

The design and total renovation of a 3-story heavy timber building with 30,000 sq/ft industrial space in Norther Liberties Philadelphia. The project was instrumental in the contributed to a neighborhood rejuvenation of the Northern Liberties neighborhood and has since added many new building restaurants and bars. The 314 Brown street property was built at the turn of the 20th century as an addition to an existing late 19th century Cigar factory. The conversion allowed for 30 artist studios on the upper and lower levels. Commercial use and offices on the First Floors with a private parking adjacent. The project was a total gut renovation calling for the replacement of all systems, repairing failed structure, and upgrading to conform to all building codes.

Philadelphia, PA

Design By Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Status: Completed

Planned construction and rehabilitation of historic Cramp Ship Building on the Philadelphia waterfront, a 460′ x 120′ x 80′ tall industrial building. The site was one of the oldest naval yards in the country, founded in 1830 by William Cramp, and was the preeminent U.S. iron shipbuilder of the late 19th century. The preservation and renovation of this site with mixed-use development would jumpstart the transformation into a lively and energetic neighborhood. By integrating sustainable design with a historic Philadelphia building, the plan connects the past and the present to create new and revived communities along the city waterfront.

The development is phased into two stages; Phase One includes the renovation and conversion of the original building into 162 apartment units with parking. Phase Two is the new construction of a residential tower with 260 apartment units and commercial space on the ground level.

Philadelphia, PA

Design By Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Status: Pending

The Garden Loom Development was a project initiated by the NLCDC in collaboration with the Philadelphia housing authority and the William Penn Foundation to create Live work Lofts for moderate income Artists as a new typology of housing. The apartments were designed with the requirement of serving for living and working in adjacent spaces. A total of 5 apartments were customized for the individual artist who qualifies for the subsidized housing. The location of the 2 building which were donated to the CDC was instrumental in creating an anchor for the revival of the neighborhood which flourished in the years after as a multi ethnic integrated neighborhood.

Design By Atelier Vibeke Lichten

Supervision By Others.

Owner NLCDC

Made of steel and glass, with surfaces left unfinished, these vitrines combine an industrial look with arts and crafts sensitivity. The other components are made of common hardware elements that are altered or used out of normal context. Pulleys and counterweights operate in full view to lift and close the arched glass lids. The materials, fittings, and functional elements of these pieces mirror building technologies of the late 19th century as well as the late 20th century. The thought behind the pieces was that it should not compete with but complement the artwork on display. The vitrines are an art installation acting as a curiosity vessel for a collection of Turned wood pieces. A lighting system was integrated into the design as an integral part of the installation. They were fabricated in the studio of glass artist Ray King

Materials: Steel, Glass, Hardware

A bench that allows convenient Seating with temporary storage space for use in a dressing area. The use of a very thin plate of black anodized aluminum makes the sliver-like seat possible.

Materials: Birch Plywood with Wood veneer, Anodized Aluminum, Glass Mirror, Steel, Aluminum

Dimensions: 62″H x 78″L x 23 1/4″ W

A coffee table made of laminated plywood table top cantilevered off side triangular glass to support. Load is transferred through the center tension glass member to steel gears.

Materials: Birch Plywood with Wood veneer, Anodized Aluminum, Glass Mirror, Steel

Dimensions: 20″H x 16″W x 20″L

Cantilevered glass intersects a plywood base with aluminum hardware for a contemporary vanity desk equipped with mirror and drawers for storage.

Materials: Birch Plywood with Wood veneer, Anodized Aluminum, Glass Mirror, Steel, Aluminum

A glass table top in a vesica shape is cantilevered off a thin wood veneer panel. The load is transfered through a pressure point in the slot. Steel gears act as legs, making the table easy to relocate. The form is inspired by the Blue Heron, a bird native to the Schuylkill River.

Materials: Wood veneer, Anodized Aluminum, Glass, Steel, Rubber

An elegant solution to temporary room partitioning, this Japanese inspired screen creates spatial boundaries through a layering of mesh and aluminum hardware.

These vitrines were designed in a series of three for the display of precious objects using geometric primitives: The square, The circle, and The triangle. Made of steel, glass, perforated metal with glass marbles as wel as common hardware elements altered or used out of normal context, the aesthetic becomes one of the industrial meeting arts and crafts. Pulleys, gears and counterweights allow the cases to be opened and closed. Each vitrine is designed as a free standing unit, as though a precious jewel box floating in space, protecting its contents. The metal cases are bolted to a 1/2″ laminated glass plate, with a laminated glass leg supporting the Vitrines laterally. The use of laminated glass is crucial to allow near complete transparency while making use of its high load bearing capacity. These vitrines are built as a kit of parts that can be easily disassembled and moved to a new locale if necessary.

Materials: Steel, Glass, Perforated Metal, Marbles, Hardware

Dimensions: 27″H x 13″W x 24″ L

The design concepts in the renovation of this urban 28th floor high rise apartment was flexibility. The apartment needed to serve the family as a home with smaller rooms for multiple functions, while also allowing for a transformation into a wide open space adequate for large social entertaining. The design solution was to create two movable walls, each making a unique 3D art mural. The compositions, playing on transparency and translucency, were created from the use of different materials & components mounted onto a large frame. Heavy duty gate hardware was fastened to the stationary wall, and track and castors were mounted on the frame to create the movable walls.

Materials: Steel Mesh, Glass, S.S. Metal Shavings, Hardware