Once concealed by drywall, one of the two colossal columns is now the focal point of a spacious open kitchen at the front of the residence that centers the main living space. Built around the unearthed column is a sculptural black-veined-marble island that serves as an informal dining and gathering place for the clients and their teenage daughter. “It has a strong geometry,” says Philipp of the island. “It’s partially open below, not this massive solid block, but there’s still enough counter space to accommodate a family of three.” Situated at a slant opposite the column-anchored island is a custom-designed white oak banquette for more formal sit-down meals—a striking material contrast to the kitchen’s freestanding raw-concrete and marble centerpiece. On the opposite wall, unpolished brass kitchen fixtures and hardware accentuate a closed and open-shelf cabinetry system in smoked ash.

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Existing concrete columns were incorporated into the open kitchen (1 & 2) and primary bathroom (3). Photos © Alan Tansey, click to enlarge.

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“A lot of 1980s conversions have tight, galley-style kitchens tucked away in the back,” says Kit, noting that the existing plumbing stacks proved to be the only truly restrictive element of the renovation. “We opened this kitchen up, and mixed refined materials with the rough and industrial.”

A second bathroom is situated off the entrance. Photo © Alan Tansey

The second column straddles what is now a laundry nook and the primary bathroom, which includes a double sink in the same marble as the kitchen island, a walk-in shower, and a wood shelving unit tucked between the wall and the column’s raw concrete face. Near the entrance to the unit, a smaller bathroom—it features a tub and fixtures mirroring those in the kitchen—may lack a signature concrete column but did play a key role in initiating the project. The clients’ previous home in the same building had one bathroom; as their daughter entered her teens, it became clear that upgrading to a larger unit with a second bathroom would be beneficial.

Much like the health remedy once manufactured in the Ex-Lax building, VonDalwig’s renovation combines functionality with good taste. Achieving this balance was made easier by generous confidence placed in the architects by their clients. “We had an existing relationship with them and, so, didn’t have to battle with trust issues,” says Philipp. “And their daughter was just the right age to have her own bathroom—that part was a huge relief.”