Capturing Light & Tribeca Penthouse: Urban Sanctuaries

Min Design‘s projects, Capturing Light in San Francisco and Tribeca Penthouse in New York City, offer an insightful look into how thoughtful design can transform everyday living spaces. By melding art with architecture, these projects highlight the interplay of natural light, historic character, and modern functionality, inviting residents to experience urban environments in a new light.

Designer and Vision

At the helm of these projects is E.B. Min, AIA, whose work with Min Design reflects a refined understanding of space and light. With an academic background that bridges art history and architectural practice, E.B. Min brings a balanced sensibility to each project. Her approach is less about dramatic statements and more about nuanced curation—a celebration of subtle interactions between light, material, and form. In both projects, this vision creates a calm, intimate atmosphere that quietly elevates daily living.

Capturing Light: Illuminating Urban Residences

The Capturing Light project in San Francisco is a study in overcoming constraints. Nestled on a site with only two exposures, the design confronts urban limitations head-on by carefully orchestrating a dance of natural illumination. Rather than succumbing to the challenges posed by neighboring structures, the design employs a mix of direct, indirect, reflected, and borrowed light. This strategic use of lighting techniques transforms a compact urban dwelling into a series of intimate spaces that feel both expansive and contemplative. The project stands as an example of how careful manipulation of light can redefine residential comfort in a bustling cityscape.

Tribeca Penthouse: Historic Charm Reimagined

Over in New York City, the Tribeca Penthouse project reinterprets the charm of a historic structure. Set within a converted 1884 warehouse, this penthouse marries the character of a bygone era with the necessities of contemporary living. Working closely with the homeowners, Min Design introduced subtle yet effective architectural interventions—a minimalist palette paired with durable, unfussy materials—to soften the building’s original heavy timber framework. A particularly striking element is the reimagined stair design: featuring a shifted stacking layout, open risers with glass railings, and folded steel plates that capture daylight. These thoughtful touches not only highlight the penthouse’s historic roots but also create a playful, family-friendly atmosphere.

Bridging Form and Function

Both projects exemplify a balanced dialogue between form and function. In Capturing Light, the manipulation of natural light is not merely decorative but serves to enhance the home’s spatial narrative, transforming everyday routines into moments of quiet reflection. Meanwhile, the Tribeca Penthouse adapts a historic setting into a functional living space that meets modern family needs without sacrificing its inherent character. These examples underscore a central theme in Min Design‘s work: that architecture can elevate the everyday by harmoniously blending practical requirements with a poetic sensitivity to space and light.