Jared Smith is a New York-based, young African-American professional who is Founder & Principal Architect at ArchitectOwl. He believes that architecture is so much more than just skyscrapers and commercial buildings. There’s design in every aspect of life, from the carton in a supermarket to the layout of a museum. He aims to make sense of the spaces one eats, play, work, and sleep in. Therefore, ArchitectOwl works with home & property owners, home buyers, real estate professionals, investors, and anyone with a design or spatial problem needing a resolution which will correct the existing problem in design and make their life unconsciously better.
Following is the list of five renovation projects by Ar. Jared Smith.
1. Single Family House Renovation – Yonkers, NY | Jared Smith
A single-family house of one storey with a pitched roof and a basement was renovated by Ar. Jared Smith. The before images of the house give a hint, that Wood was the primary material used in the construction, be it drywall or facade. The original floor plate was very compact for a family of five. Therefore, the goal of the redesign was to declutter the floor and invite the bright light to expand the space. Taking a minimal approach, the basic principles of design were used. White walls paired with dark floors give an illusion of space. The kitchen is compact and filled with ample storage. The facade and deck were restored to its original state.
2. Kitchen Renovation (Cooperative Unit) – Yonkers, NY
A small kitchen space renovation project is a perfect example of Jared Smith’s design philosophy- “to make sense of the spaces one eats, plays, work, and sleep in”. The project is a solution to a spatial problem. The compact kitchen plate had minimal storage to suffice the need. Therefore, the kitchen island was expanded, and storage was multiplied. With upgraded finishes, the cabinets were painted white to visually declutter the area at eye-level. A black quartz stone on the island gives a contrasting appearance.
3. Custom Home Renovation – Yonkers, NY
An American vintage house was converted into a contemporary furnished home. Patterned tiles and warm wooden doors which created a cozy environment was replaced by dark wood and white paint to make space look brighter. Items of Furniture were reorganized and reused with minimum changes to meet the demands of the new generation, yet restore the warmth of old times. Few statement pieces like vintage light and a painting marks personal touch.
4. Custom Deck For Jacuzzi – Yonkers, NY
An old, weak, and rustic deck was converted into a party platform that can accommodate an outdoor jacuzzi. The foundation of the deck was redesigned with concrete, metal, and wood to make it sturdy and elevate it from the ground. A clean wooden structural base gives support to the wooden deck flooring. An upgraded metal railing serves as a visual boundary to a camouflage background.
5. Custom Kitchen Renovation – White Plains, NY | Jared Smith
Yet another rationally and aesthetically crafted kitchen renovation project showcases the sensitivity towards design by Ar. Jared Smith. The two basic steps used in the design are ‘elimination of useless and reorganizing the useful’. The shape of the island was changed to open the floor plan and fit a multipurpose island in the center. The repetitive use of white color reflects light to expand the illusion of space. The use of decorative suspended light adds to the aesthetics.
Ar. Jared Smith is a member of NOMA(National Organisation of Minority Architects) that works on minimizing the effect of racism in this profession. He calls himself ‘a rebel with a cause’, the cause is to fight discrimination. He has penned down his thoughts in 500+ blog posts since 2015. Apart from his work in architecture, he is known for his contribution to architectural photography and writing that has helped uplift young minority architects in America.
