Once a practice studio for 1990s hip-hop group the Beastie Boys, this New York loft is now home to architect David Howell, his wife Steffani Aarons and their seven-year-old twin daughters Sintra and Bianca.

“It’s a different environment from Auckland. Here, there’s the intensity of living in such an urbane city. The energy is both relentless and intoxicating,” says Howell.

Located at Union Square in New York’s Lower Manhattan, the loft is a stone’s throw from Broadway.

Originally built in the 1870s, the brick, limestone and cast-iron low-rise building revealed generous ceiling heights (approximately four metres) and unencumbered spaces (approximately 300 square metres) when Howell set about redesigning the loft in 2002.

“It was fairly raw. It had been vacant for five years. I think its previous use was as a photographic studio,” Howell says, recalling the partitions towards the rear of the loft.

While the space was relatively primitive, there were a number of original and distinctive features: large steel windows to the street, and timber columns and joists.

Howell retained the essence of the building, leaving the kitchen and living areas as open as possible.

“With these buildings, you only get light from the front and back. We’re sandwiched between two office buildings,” he says.

To maximise natural light, the formal living area extends across the entire width of the building. With high ceilings and abundant afternoon sunlight, the space is animated by an interesting collection of objects and artefacts purchased in New York and New Zealand.

The crucifix-like sculpture by US artist Tony Conway is dramatic, as is the Body Raft chaise by New Zealand’s David Trubridge.

“I saw Trubridge’s piece in a magazine here. It was only later that I realised we both grew up in the same town, Havelock North,” Howell says.

Wall lights created by Brooklyn artist David Weeks are arranged randomly on the dining room wall.

“When we moved in [2002], there was a lot of wall space and we had very little art. These lights are both functional and aesthetic,” Howell says.

As the kitchen is part of the open-plan living areas, it reads as a “non-kitchen”. There are no overhead cabinets and the few shelves are used to display objects. The large pantry to one side contains the appliances. The long Corian island bench is kept free of clutter.

One of the most distinctive features of the apartment is the American black walnut floor in the kitchen and living areas.

Concrete poured in situ along the edges gives the sense of a handcrafted timber “rug”.

“I wanted to make the timber feel as precious as a Persian rug,” Howell says.

While there are numerous doors leading from the open-plan living areas, only a couple can be seen. Most of the doorways are “slip ways”.

“I’ve never been keen on emphasising doors. I prefer to create a journey whereby rooms unfold or are discovered,” Howell says. Walls finished in American black walnut frame the original plaster walls.

The children’s bedroom walls are painted with stripes of varying width, with Chinese umbrellas hanging from the ceiling. “We weren’t interested in creating a Beatrix Potter theme or that of any other character,” Howell says.

In contrast, the main bedroom suite is sedate. Orientated towards the building’s central light well, there’s a sense of calm. “It’s probably the darkest part of the loft. But it’s quite a respite from the bustle of Broadway,” Howell says.

Architect David Howell, T: 212 477 7700, www.davidhowell.net