Curation Is the Key to Keeping a Small Space Lively

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 11, 2026

Architect Michael K. Chen and his husband, Andy Beck, have lived in a compact, architecturally striking apartment in Manhattan’s Chinatown since 2007, carefully curating their space with mid-century Italian design pieces and personal collections. Their home blends functionality with artistry, serving as both a practical remote work environment enhanced during the pandemic and a reflection of their aesthetic values and interests.

Since 2007, architect Michael K. Chen and his husband, Andy Beck, have made their home in an 800-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment in Chatham Towers, a Brutalist co-op building in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Despite the modest size of the unit, the pair have expressed no desire to move, drawn by the building’s distinctive architectural character and sweeping city views.

Designed by Kelly & Gruzen and completed in 1965, Chatham Towers features a stark, sculptural facade that Chen finds compelling. Their apartment, located on a high floor, offers an unobstructed panorama extending north through Midtown Manhattan. With space at a premium, Chen and Beck carefully curate the furnishings and objects within their home, blending practicality with personal significance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple incorporated a Curve laptop stand, purchased for about $60, into their daily routine. Initially reluctant to use such an accessory, Chen noted that it became a permanent fixture on their vintage Kartell Four dining table. This device supported their increased remote work and video calls, including regular virtual dinners with family members in Washington, D.C., and Colorado. These extended conversations transformed a challenging period into a positive, shared experience.

A centerpiece in their apartment is a vintage rosewood cabinet designed by Italian architect Gianfranco Frattini for Bernini, acquired for approximately 4,500 euros (around $5,100). Chen admires mid-20th-century Italian design and aligns his architectural practice with that era. The cabinet’s tambour doors conceal barware and serving items, while its surface serves as a display area for rotating art pieces, including prints and sculptures by contemporary artists such as Andrew Kuo, Christopher Kurtz, and Jeff Martin.

The couple also maintains a notable collection of dachshund-themed sculptures and objects arranged on a credenza. The assortment—accumulated over time and often gifted by friends—includes ceramic, terra-cotta, wooden, iron, and plastic figures. Their miniature dachshund, Archie, is the inspiration behind the collection, which their housekeeper once arranged into a circular formation described by Chen as a “dachshund cabal.” Among the figures is a brass basset hound, which Chen humorously acknowledged as an inclusive member of the group.

Through careful selection and curation, Chen and Beck have crafted a living space that maximizes their limited square footage while reflecting their design sensibilities and personal interests.

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