Artist’s Residence Restoration

Abandoned Church from the 1800’s becomes an Artist’s Residence

Architecture

Project Management

Historical Renovation

TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE

12,000

ORIGINAL STRUCTURE BUILT IN

1819

PROJECT RESTORED ON

2021

FEATURED IN PUBLICATIONS

FEATURED IN PUBLICATIONS

50+

ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS

8+

2021 BLT Built Design Award  Winner, Restoration & Renovation Category

2021 Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Award Editor’s Choice, Adaptive Reuse Category

2021 AIA Long Island Archi Award  Winner, Historic Restoration/Adaptive Re-Use Category

2021 AIA Long Island Archi Award  Winner, Historic Restoration/Adaptive Re-Use Category

2021 Architizer A+ Award   Finalist, Architecture + Adaptive Reuse Category

⭐ About the Project

⭐ About the Project

Renowned artist Eric Fischl & his partner April Gornik purchased ‘The Church’, a Methodist Church that was abandoned and in poor shape. They cared about creating a space that was flexible and resilient to the needs of it’s occupants. An artist’s residency that can hold multidisciplinary program and evolve based on the program of the space.

Renowned artist Eric Fischl & his partner April Gornik purchased ‘The Church’, a Methodist Church that was abandoned and in poor shape. They cared about creating a space that was flexible and resilient to the needs of it’s occupants. An artist’s residency that can hold multidisciplinary program and evolve based on the program of the space.

🚧 Church History

🚧 Church History

1835

Originally, The Church was a Methodist church, built in 1835 on High Street, about 5 blocks from its current location. This first construction of The Church was in Greek Revival style.

Originally, The Church was a Methodist church, built in 1835 on High Street, about 5 blocks from its current location. This first construction of The Church was in Greek Revival style.

1864

In 1864, only 29 years later, it was moved to its present location because its congregrants found winter travel to “Methodist Hill” too difficult. Unlike today, buildings were often and routinely moved in the 18th and 19th centuries by oxen and horses.

In 1864, only 29 years later, it was moved to its present location because its congregrants found winter travel to “Methodist Hill” too difficult. Unlike today, buildings were often and routinely moved in the 18th and 19th centuries by oxen and horses.

1938

The campanile had a clock designed by astronomer and clockmaker Ephraim Byram, which was sadly lost in the huge Hurricane of 1938, the “Long Island Express”. A new tower was built to house its rare bell.

The campanile had a clock designed by astronomer and clockmaker Ephraim Byram, which was sadly lost in the huge Hurricane of 1938, the “Long Island Express”. A new tower was built to house its rare bell.

2007

2007

In 2007, the congregation decided deconsecrate and sell the building. The next decade saw three different owners: one who intended to install condos, one with a textile design company, and one making a private residence.

In 2007, the congregation decided deconsecrate and sell the building. The next decade saw three different owners: one who intended to install condos, one with a textile design company, and one making a private residence.

2017

2017

The building was finally purchased by Eric Fischl and April Gornik, who decided to preserve it in its stripped-down state, admiring its rich patina and beauty.

We were chosen to assist with the renovation, and everyone’s guiding principle was to establish harmony between the “bones” of the original building while adding clean, modern elements, like the glass elevator. Reclaimed wood lath left from previous builders was repurposed as office, restroom, and storage space walls.

The building was finally purchased by Eric Fischl and April Gornik, who decided to preserve it in its stripped-down state, admiring its rich patina and beauty.

We were chosen to assist with the renovation, and everyone’s guiding principle was to establish harmony between the “bones” of the original building while adding clean, modern elements, like the glass elevator. Reclaimed wood lath left from previous builders was repurposed as office, restroom, and storage space walls. The original structural wood is over 300 years old, and an exciting and unintended consequence was the discovery that it is ma