The CYRK Building is a 14,500 square foot commercial and residential gem located in southeast Portland. DECA, an independent architecture and interior design studio in Portland, Oregon, designed it as a live-work environment. The owner maintains a primary residence on the second floor and a business office on the ground floor. An additional 1,200 square feet is set aside on the ground floor for commercial and retail use.
The LEED Platinum certified CYRK Building is a pillar of innovative and environmentally focused architecture. The elegant design features a green roof, solar panels (both PV and hydrogen), a ground-source heat pump, FSC certified lumber, and passive and active solar shading. Krownlab's Baldur sliding door hardware is featured throughout the interior.
“The idea of creating a sustainable live-work building in a close-in, walkable neighborhood seemed like a smart way to use, time space and resources,” said project owner Bonnie Serkin. “It turns out we were right to consolidate our lives in one beautiful structure just down the street from the rest of our family and only a couple of blocks from restaurants and shops.”
PERFECT SOLUTION
For their second-story residence, the project owners wanted a guest wing that offered privacy to their visitors but was an accessible part of their home when vacant.
The DECA team designed a central gallery that connects the main stairwell entry to the dining room and living room. With Krownlab’s Baldur hardware, the owner’s home is a versatile and adaptive space capable of opening or concealing the kitchen as well as the guest suite to the main gallery.
“We designed two sliding resin-panel walls,” said DECA principal David Hyman. “One was 9’ long and the other 14’ long. The large one weighed several hundred pounds and needed to be effortless for any of the homeowners to use. Krownlab’s rolling door hardware fit the ticket. It is both beautiful and extremely well-built.”
Precision-manufactured from high quality 300- and 400- series stainless steel, Baldur hardware feature four-inch diameter unsealed bearings and a patented hubless design.
“With the superb craftsmanship of the hardware, the overall effect was stunning,” said Hyman. “We’ve used Krownlab sliding door hardware on two projects and it has been a pleasure working with them. Krownlab was very helpful in determining the appropriate hardware needed to support the loads and they provided accurate drawings, dimensions and clear instructions to the contractor regarding installation.”
AWARD WINNING DESIGN
The Baldur hardware compliments the CYRK Building by contributing to the minimalist aesthetics of the building’s sleek exterior and interior design. Coupled with DECA’s brilliant design, Baldur hardware created a flexible environment where the owners could live and host guests.
“The movable wall enhances the versatility of the spaces in our home,” said Serkin. Its main purpose is to serve as the door to the library, creating a separate guest area when closed. When it slides farther toward the living room, it screens the kitchen from the dining room. But mainly the panel is ‘docked’ at the stairwell end of the track, where it becomes a decorative element. Our home has a soft minimalist aesthetic, and the styling of the hardware is consistent with our other design choices.”
Since it’s completion in 2011, the CRYK Building has been recognized for its functionality, sustainable qualities and chic, sophisticated design.
“We have received a countless number of positive comments about the hardware on both projects,” said Hyman. “The CYRK Building has won awards for design excellence and been published in magazines. The Krownlab hardware undoubtedly played a role in helping to obtain that recognition. We loved the experience working with the staff at Krownlab and hope to find many other applications for their products in the future.”
