Live/Work Experiment Hosts Inaugural Open House

Andre Architecture has completed renovation of a storefront in downtown Manhattan, converting an underutilized commercial unit into a multi-functional live/work residence and new headquarters for the namesake company. The 1,000-square-foot ground-floor unit showcases how design and planning can merge residential and commercial typologies — both in practice and in compliance with local zoning and building law. This milestone occasion was marked with an open house on June 26th, 2025. 

The event took full advantage of a bright summer day, with open doors and streetside cooking led by Joseph Ruiz Tapia, principal at Andre Architecture and part-time culinary entrepreneur. Guests were invited inside to explore the newly transformed storefront, which featured digital slideshows presenting years of mostly unpublished and in-progress works, including sketches, photography, and renderings from the firm’s archives.

Beyond a bespoke polycarbonate-and-oak door, guests toured the private residence of Andre Gomez and his wife, Rebecca. The home revealed a harmony of local and reclaimed furnishings paired with custom-made contemporaries in wood and industrial metals. Select imports from international makers such as Viabizzuno and Verdi underscore the studio’s commitment to authentic, enduring design.