Daniel Arsham's 9M SoHo Firehouse Townhouse
Daniel Arsham casts everyday objects, sneakers, cameras, video game consoles, in volcanic ash and crystal, eroding them as if excavated centuries from now. He calls the practice fictional archaeology. That same interest in historical items drew him to 185 Lafayette Street, a four-story SoHo firehouse built in 1887 for FDNY Engine Company No. 55. Architect Napoleon LeBrun designed it, one of more than 40 firehouses he built across the city. The station stayed in service until 1982. Arsham bought it afterward and converted it into a home and studio. The 20.5-foot-wide townhouse keeps its landmarked brick facade, terra cotta rosettes, and cast-iron pillars topped with flame motifs, a nod to the building's original purpose. Inside: 13- to 15-foot beamed ceilings on every level, wide-plank oak floors, and a kitchen outfitted with Miele and Subzero appliances. The original iron spiral staircase remains, repainted mint green as a centerpiece. The primary suite includes a windowed steam shower by Hansgrohe and a custom walk-in closet. The ground floor, with poured concrete floors and double bay doors, can run as a studio, gallery, or garage, complete with a curb cut so a car can pull straight in, a rarity in Manhattan. A landscaped roof terrace with a cabana tops the building.
