Oh Look...Mezzanines! Open House At Scarano's "Satori"

340 Bond Street


What the sales brochure may have left out!

Open house at the Satori at 340 Bond Street? I couldn't resist. I needed to check it out. Designed by notorious 'Bad Boy' architect Robert Scarano, the building is described on its web site as follows:

The Satori located in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn, marks an awakening of the senses. A new building, fueled by nature and the simplicity it provides to create unique residences originated to enhance, not interfere with, life. It introduces a new living experience, utilizing the art of Japanese design, layering a multitude of textures and an original conceptional facade.

The apartments have been languishing on the market for quite a while. Even after some steep price cuts, only six out of the 34 units are in contract. They are currently priced from $385K to $795K.
Of course, the current economy has slowed sales everywhere, but the Satori has a few strikes against it, most notably its location as well as its use of mezzanine floors. A Scarano trademark, those mezzanines are labeled as storage areas in his blueprints, their square footage not added into the building’s total floor-to-area ratio. However, they turn the apartments into 'faux' duplexes.
When I questioned the Satori salesperson on site at the open house, he said:
"Those storage spaces can be converted into living spaces after the closing."
I guess, Scarano is still at it. But let me give you a tour:

The living rooms have great high ceilings, but..

the stairs connecting floors in the duplexes are dangerously steep. I actually slipped and barely was able to catch myself.

"Faux Duplexes"
What seems like an additional floor....

above the kitchens of some of the units....

is actually one of Scarano's signature mezzanines.

More mezzanines...

this one masquerading as a storage area...

complete with electric and telephone hook-up.

The placement of this sink in one of the bathrooms is awkward, to say the least. One has to press against the wall in order to center one's hands under the faucet.

Nothing beats the view of the 'lovely' Gowanus canal area from one of the windows facing Bond Street...
...except maybe the view of that 'other' Scarano building,
the one with the illegal two story addition at 333 Carroll Street, visible from the back of the Satori.

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