The Upper East Suite Munus Primarium: Consilium Interius Domesticum by Guoqiang Feng and Yan Chen

The Upper East Suite Munus Primarium: Consilium Interius Domesticum by Guoqiang Feng and Yan Chen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum in Designatio Interior Competition Category.

AesInterior· 2025

The Upper East Suite Munus Primarium: Consilium Interius Domesticum

by Guoqiang Feng and Yan Chen

Client: Feng and Chen Partners Design New York

Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum Winner in Interior Category

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Colors

The Design

About The Upper East Suite Munus Primarium: Consilium Interius Domesticum

Textus Libri: Suite Superioris Orientis est consilium interius domesticum, in aedificio hospitii cenaculorum anno 1924 exstructo, in Regione Historica Superioris Orientis Novi Eboraci situm. Cenaculum renovatum est pro coniugibus qui lucernas et supellectilem stili Artis Decorativae annorum 1930 colligunt. Opus lignarium plenae altitudinis, pluteos librorum, armaria reposita et vestiaria complectens, in officina lignaria praefabricatum et in loco compositum est. Ostia scandentia ex vitro textura instructo et parietes ligneae divisoriae cubicula aperiri vel claudi sinunt. Superficies speculatae interiorem spatium apertiorem sentiri faciunt. Consilium reposita et locum studiis destinatum intra dispositionem historicam fixam addit.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Aeneum

The Upper East Suite Munus Primarium: Consilium Interius Domesticum victor est Praemii A' Design Award Aeneum, honoris multum aestimati formis egregiis, creandi ingenio, sollertia et acumine insignibus dati. Victores Aenei opera perita et mire creandi sunt, quae experientiam, imaginationem et solertiam auctorum suorum confirmant. Exspectatur The Upper East Suite Munus Primarium: Consilium Interius Domesticum rem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, notabiliter professionalem et novam fore. Haec forma Aeneo victa optimas consuetudines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae amplectitur et in cura minutiarum excellit. The Upper East Suite Munus Primarium: Consilium Interius Domesticum necessitates egregie explet, cupiditates tangit, sensus capit et curiositatem allicit.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This apartment is located in New York's Upper East Side Historic District. Built in 1924 as an apartment hotel and later converted into a residence, the building bears a French name inspired by a renowned wine region. The owners, a middle aged couple passionate about art and design, collect 1930s Art Deco lighting and furniture from New York, Paris, and Shanghai. The design harmonizes their interests with the building's history while optimizing space with custom storage and a study for a refined modern lifestyle.
Dimensions & Packaging: Historic Hotel Apartment Suite Renovation Design
Tags: New York, Manhattan, Upper East Side Historic District, Pre-war Apartment, Art Deco, Contemporary Living, Feng and Chen New York, Guoqiang Feng, Yan Chen, Yicheng Feng
Production Technology: The design required high precision due to extensive full height woodwork, including bookshelves, storage cabinets, and wardrobes with seamless linear designs. These elements were prefabricated in a millwork shop for precise cutting and assembled on site. Full height glass mirrors required exact positioning and seamless integration. Additionally, the installation of a single slab marble backsplash in the kitchen and large format marble in the bathroom demanded meticulous craftsmanship.
Design Challenge: As a protected historic building, preserving its architectural heritage was essential. Originally designed as an apartment hotel suite, the layout imposed spatial limitations, making it challenging to adapt the apartment for modern urban living. The key challenge was maximizing functionality within these constraints - integrating storage, privacy, and flexibility without compromising the building's historical integrity. Balancing heritage preservation with contemporary needs required careful planning and innovative solutions.
Research: Located centrally in the Upper East Side, surrounded by classic pre-war buildings and completed in 1924, the owners aimed to capture and preserve the atmosphere of that era. The team conducted targeted research into iconic 1930s Art Deco interiors nearby, including The Carlyle, The Mark, and 740 Park Avenue.
Inspiration: Inspired by the rich history of this Pre-war apartment on the Upper East Side of New York, the designers sought to revive the elegance of the 1930s. Encouraged by the collection of lighting and furniture from that era, carefully curated by the residents, they seamlessly integrated these pieces into the newly acquired residence, creating a functional yet refined living space. Their approach was guided by meticulous spatial planning and historical research, balancing period aesthetics with modern comfort.
Project Duration: The project started in June 2024 in New York City and finished in February 2025 in New York City.
Operation Flow: This residence was transformed from a former apartment hotel suite, with the design maximizing flexibility despite the fixed layout. Textured glass sliding doors were added to the kitchen and bedroom, while the study features wooden sliding partitions. When open, these doors create a fluid, interactive space; when closed, they provide privacy. Strategically placed mirrored surfaces throughout enhance the sense of space, making the interior feel more open and dynamic.
Team Members: Yan Chen
Yicheng Feng
Image Credits: Copyright belongs to Feng and Chen Partners Design New York.