A. Alberto Lugo

About Me

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Eastchester Architectural Digest, a curated space where design theory meets the practical reality of living in one of New York’s most historic counties.

I’m A. Alberto Lugo. You might know me as the guy playing pickleball at Lake Isle, or perhaps you’ve seen my team from Framing Futures Architectural Firm (FFAF) measuring setbacks on a lot in Scarsdale. But before I was a CEO, and before I was a "Visionary Award" winner, I was an observer.

Eastchester, and the broader Westchester region, possesses a unique architectural soul. It is a dialogue between the roaring 1920s—with our sturdy brick Tudors and Colonials—and the breathless innovation of the 2020s. This digest is dedicated to exploring that dialogue. Here, we don't just look at houses; we look at how we live in them.

From the "Green Revolution" happening on our rooftops to the subtle art of the modern extension, this is your guide to the built environment of our hometown.

Trend Watch: The "Invisible" Addition

Drive through the winding roads of Bronxville or Eastchester, and you’ll notice a shift. The "McMansion" era is dead. The new luxury is subtlety.

At FFAF, our most requested design challenge in 2024 has been what I call the "Invisible Addition."

Homeowners love the curb appeal of their pre-war homes—the slate roofs, the copper gutters, the masonry. They don't want to lose that character, but they desperately need the open floor plans and light of modern living.

The Solution: We are designing glass-box extensions for the rear of these historic homes. From the street, the house looks exactly as it did in 1935. But step through the front door, and you are drawn toward a wall of floor-to-ceiling smart glass that opens entirely to the backyard.

• Why it works: It respects the streetscape while radically changing the lifestyle of the interior.

• Lugo’s Tip: Use blackened steel frames for the glass. It contrasts beautifully with the red brick of traditional Eastchester architecture, creating a bridge between old and new.

(Image Suggestion 2: An "Architectural Digest" style spread showing a "Before & After." The "Before" is a dark, cramped kitchen. The "After" is a sun-drenched, open-plan space with a seamless transition to an outdoor patio. Caption: "Letting the Light In: A. Alberto Lugo’s Signature Retrofit.")

Material Matters: The Return of Terrazzo (With a Twist)

In my days studying architecture at Cornell, we learned that trends are cyclical. But some materials come back better than before.

Terrazzo is back in Westchester kitchens, but not the speckled linoleum you remember from your elementary school cafeteria. We are seeing Large-Scale Venetian Terrazzo—huge chunks of marble, quartz, and granite set in concrete.

The Eco-Angle: As the founder of the Architecture and Earth Awareness Foundation, I love this trend because it is inherently sustainable. It uses the off-cuts of the stone industry. Instead of discarding small pieces of expensive Italian marble, they are ground down and poured into a floor that will last 100 years.

• Where to use it: I’m recommending this for radiant-heated floors in entryways. It’s durable, easy to clean (crucial if you have three Alaskan Malamutes like I do), and conducts heat efficiently during our freezing New York winters.

Spotlight: The "Green" Roofs of Scarsdale

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Energy bills.

Westchester electricity rates aren't getting any cheaper. For years, the aesthetic concern was that solar panels were "ugly." They disrupted the clean lines of a slate or cedar shake roof.

That argument is officially over.

The Tech: We are now installing Solar Shingles and BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics). These aren't panels bolted on top of your roof; they are the roof. They mimic the look of slate or asphalt but generate power.

I recently consulted on a project near Leewood where we replaced an aging roof with a Tesla Solar Roof. The result? A net-zero home that looks historically accurate. It’s the ultimate marriage of my two passions: preserving history and saving the planet.

Lugo’s Local Loves: Design in the Wild

Great design isn't just found in private homes. Here are a few local spots in Eastchester and beyond that I think get the architecture right:

1. The Crestwood Library: A fantastic example of community scale. It feels inviting, not imposing.

2. Siwanoy Country Club: Look at the masonry work. The detailing is a masterclass in texture.

3. The Bronx River Parkway Bridges: Next time you're stuck in traffic, look up. The stone arches are a reminder that infrastructure can be beautiful.

Ask the Architect: Q&A with A. Alberto Lugo

• Q: "I want to finish my basement, but the ceiling is too low. What can I do?" — Mike, Eastchester

  • A: This is the https://www.google.com/search?q=%231 Eastchester problem! You have two options. The expensive one: Underpinning (digging down the foundation). The smart design hack: Expose the joists. Instead of drywalling the ceiling and losing 6 inches, paint the exposed pipes, wires, and wood beams a uniform matte white or charcoal gray. It gives you an "industrial loft" vibe and keeps the maximum height.

• Q: "Is it worth upgrading to triple-pane windows?" — Jenna, Scarsdale

  • A: In our climate? Absolutely. Not only for the insulation (saving money) but for the acoustics. If you live near the train line or a busy road, triple-glazing brings a "library silence" to your home that is priceless.

The Responsibility of the Owner

Owning a home in this part of New York is a stewardship. We are caretakers of these structures for the next generation. Whether you are doing a gut renovation or just picking a paint color, ask yourself: Does this add value to the life of the home?