In a sixth-floor loft condominium in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, an architectural intervention has transformed an 1,100-square-foot space into a carefully customized live/work environment for a family of three. Jessica Dimmock and Zackary Canepari, both award-winning directors and photographers, share the unit with their 9-year-old daughter, Roxy, in a former newspaper printing plant converted to residential use.

The original layout included a large open room with maple floors, expansive north-facing windows, a small L-shaped kitchen, one bathroom, and minimal separation between sleeping areas. Prior configurations featured translucent partitions that did not fully extend to the 12-foot ceiling, offering limited privacy. After purchasing the unit in 2022, the family engaged architect Aya Maceda, co-founder of Brooklyn-based firm ALAO, to create a space that would accommodate their need for privacy, storage, and distinct work zones without sacrificing natural light or the openness of the living room.

Maceda introduced a birch plywood structure known as a “box-bed,” designed to function as a multifaceted element blending architecture and furniture. Positioned near the entrance, it houses individual work areas for both parents underneath a loft bed, while on the opposite side it contains Roxy’s sleeping nook, study desk, and an elevated play area featuring bright colors and storage cubbies. The design prioritizes shared use of the windowed living area while granting some degree of privacy through the compartmentalized spaces. Sliding panels between the parents’ workstations allow for interaction or separation as needed, though none of the spaces are fully enclosed, facilitating airflow and openness.

The structure also includes a designated area for the family dog, Susan, although the pet reportedly prefers not to use the niche, and this space is planned to be repurposed for equipment storage. Additional built-in storage runs along the windowed wall in the form of deep cabinets, while the steps leading to the loft bed double as flip-open compartments. The original wood flooring was lightly restored, while the kitchen and bathroom were retiled and refitted with new cabinet fronts. Existing steel column panels were retained as display surfaces for artwork attached with magnets.

Dimmock noted that although she did not initially request a secluded workroom—she often works at an external production office—she frequently finds solace in the comfortable nook that Maceda envisioned. The architect emphasized the cultural normalcy of one-room living in many contexts, explaining that the design’s combination of vivid colors and compartmentalized spaces creates a playful yet functional environment for the entire family.

The renovated loft balances the occupants’ distinct needs with the open, airy qualities of the space, making practical use of vertical height while preserving the light-filled atmosphere. The integrated “box-bed” exemplifies a creative approach to maximizing privacy, storage, and live/work functionality within a compact urban home.