POETICS & PRAGMATICS OF SPACE
Rachel K. Crystal Architect is a New York City based design practice founded with the belief that inspired surroundings enrich the quality of daily lives. The success of our work is tied to the rhythms of our clients’ lives and the pleasures of the lives they lead. Together with our clients we seek balanced spatial solutions which respond to both pragmatic needs and poetic aspirations. Our process is collaborative and our designs are distillations of complex thought processes which result in clear, well considered spaces. We apply timeless design principles to unique project criteria in order to achieve enduring, refined solutions. For each project, we rigorously organize programmatic requirements, site characteristics, schedule, and budget into a cohesive plan for success.
SERVICE
Throughout Rachel’s 31 year career practicing architecture, her goal has been to provide exceptional service to each of her clients and to exceed expectations with regard to both process and product. RKC architect offers a full range of architectural services within a hands-on, collaborative, relaxed, artistic studio setting. The firms’ guiding principles are rooted in maintaining intimate relationships and developing individualized solutions. By listening intently to clients’ needs, Rachel is able to offer detailed, fine-tuned advice that is dedicated to the improvement of each client’s vision. By remaining deliberately small, Rachel is able to maintain a primary role at every stage of the project and is able to best manage and facilitate clients’ participation and enjoyment throughout the process of design and construction.
BIO
With architecture degrees from University of Virginia (1989) and Columbia University (1994), Rachel began her career designing with award winning New York architecture firms. Prior to founding her own residential firm in 2004, Rachel worked as an architect /project manager at Butler Rogers Baskett Architects (1994 to 1998) and at Lee Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership (1998 to 2004). The scope of Rachel’s work included high end residences and cultural institutions: new houses with extensive site designs, wide-ranging apartment renovations, art galleries, and school work including children’s libraries and a black box theater. Critical to the practice of architecture in New York City and the Metro area, Rachel has built and maintained relationships with architects, engineers, expeditors, and other local specialist consultants. Critical to the career of a “word of mouth” small office practitioner, she has built and savored relationships with clients who have sought her out repeatedly throughout her career, both for enjoyment and for additional work.
RKC- ARCHITECT TEAM
A small, potent team of talented designers and architects who also aspire to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Our team is a group of worldly, multi-lingual, dedicated multi-taskers who love to listen, think, sketch, solve, chat, joke, eat, and laugh!
WORKS IN PROGRESS
Current projects include the gut renovation of a penthouse apartment with 2000sqft roof terrace facing central park, a gut renovation of an East River facing townhouse apartment and a country home renovation in New Jersey. Recently completed projects include a ground-up family house with extensive site work in East Hampton, NY, a “jewel box” landmarked historic apartment renovation in Greenwich Village, and a expansive landmarked historic apartment renovation overlooking Hudson River.