History of Plain Space
Plainspace is an architecture and design firm founded in 2001 by Angelica Ruano and Marc Albertin and it is headquartered in New York City. The practice specializes in creative solutions for high-end projects. Their design portfolio includes a variety of architectural projects, with a focus on residential spaces and more.
Angelica Ruano
Angelica assumes the job of chief designer and is active in all office projects as a principal and founding partner of plainspace. Her duties span all stages of the project and include construction management, project management, engagement with clients, design, and material selection.
Angelica graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona. After that, she attended Florence, Italy’s Istituto Per L’Arte e il Restauro to study fine arts. Following graduation, Angelica enrolled in the University of California, Los Angeles to pursue a Master of Arts degree in Architectural History and Theory. She came to New York City after graduation to pursue a Master of Science in Advanced Architectural Design at Columbia University.
Marc Albertin
Marc is a founding partner and principal of plainspace. His primary area of focus is overseeing and carrying out the office’s intricate initiatives. He is in charge of the studio’s daily operations, which include the planning and execution of many of the company’s projects.
Marc, who is originally from Arizona, began his architectural education at the University of Arizona, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in the field. He then went on to UCLA to earn a Master’s Degree in urban planning. Among other states, Marc is licensed to practice architecture in New York, California, Florida, Texas, Arizona, and Hawaii. Marc is also an NCARB and LEED certified architect and a long-standing member of the American Institute of Architects.
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Company Culture at Plain Space
Plain Space is known for fostering a collaborative and innovative work culture. Plain Space encourages teamwork and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Architects, designers, and other professionals work together to create cohesive and thoughtful designs. The firm values creativity and encourages employees to think outside the box. They often organize design charrettes and brainstorming sessions to generate fresh ideas. Plain Space invests in employee growth. They offer training, workshops, and opportunities for skill development. The firm recognizes work-life balance. Employees have flexibility in work hours and remote work options.
Plain Space prioritizes client satisfaction. They involve clients in the design process, ensuring that their vision and needs are met. he firm is committed to sustainable design practices. They integrate eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient systems, and green spaces into their projects.
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Architect-US is proud to work in close contact with Plain Space and to be able to ensure the firm gets to know and work with amazing young architects like Theodor Harasim whom we helped process and sponsor their J1 Visa as well as find a job in the US through our Job+J1 Visa Program!
Theodor Harasim
Theodor is a Romanian architect who started out his education in architecture at the “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest. After which he went on an ERASMUS scholarship experience exchange program to the Polytechnic University of Madrid Superior Technical School of Architecture of Madrid, Spain. He transferred there in 2023 and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree and later with a Master’s Degree. His work experience prior to Plain Space includes, but is not limited to, being an intern at Epstein Architecture&Engineering, being an intern at Maintenance Ibérica, S.A. –Ingeniería, Instalaciones y Mantenimiento, and being a project specialist at Romania Green Building Council.
Plain Space’s Selected Projects
Central Park West – Upper West Side, New York
According to the original building layout, the Central Park West project is a spacious 3300 square foot apartment made up of two prior units. With window openings facing all four orientations, this enlarged footprint covers the entire building floorplan. To the east are panoramic views of Central Park, the Upper West Side, and the Hudson River; to the south are views of Midtown skyscrapers, and to the north are views of the Upper West Side and Harlem.
There is a distinct division between semi-public areas during the day and more private chambers at night. The spacious living area has a 180-degree panoramic view of the famous Central Park, allowing an abundance of natural light and seasonal variations in the surrounding scenery. The kitchen with breakfast nook, dining area, and spacious bar next to the living room complete the day area. A three-pane, semi-transparent sliding door can be used to separate the kitchen from the living room.
There is a lengthy, L-shaped passageway that leads to the night sections and serves as additional storage. The master and guest bedrooms feature walk-in closets, and all bedrooms and study areas have en-suite bathrooms.
The spaces are primarily made of natural materials, including wood cabinetry and closets, limestone and marble bathrooms and countertops, specialist plasters, and oak floors. The interplay of warm materials, views, and function forges a complex connection between all project components, culminating in a distinctive, classic design that will be appreciated for many years to come.
Photos provided by Plain Space
SoHo Broadway Loft II – New York
This early project was located in the Soho Flatiron Historical District in the same building as one of their other projects, but it was on a higher floor, exposing the southern party wall to the natural light and existing fenestration. The capacity to position the spaces according to views and the daily movement of the sun brought about a significant alteration in the rather narrow floor plate. The customer, a young couple intending to have children, had their family expansion planned into the apartment in a way that made comfortable and convenient baby care. The final project was a huge success, and the family extended to four.
Photos provided by Plain Space
Midtown East Penthouse – New York
This project was completed for a current client and family who bought the penthouse of a prominent Manhattan building on East 57th Street in 2019. The client moved into the flat during the initial months of a citywide shutdown, after the developer completed it. The customer desired that only specific interventions be made by a small number of workers in a variety of high-use areas in order to minimize the exposure of construction workers. This turned into an endeavor to make drastic adjustments to a few select areas of the apartment, such as the kids’ rooms, kitchen, bathroom, and master bedroom, as well as the furniture placement in the spacious living area. Because it was created by incredibly talented stone artisans by hand in Italy, the Kitchen Island is a work of extraordinary craftsmanship. All furniture and interiors are designed by plainspace.
Photos provided by Plain Space
We will be posting more projects by Plain Space in the upcoming weeks and months, so keep an eye out for more of their incredible work! Every Friday we will be posting a new Featured Company, so join us again next week!
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