A Colorful Tree House Grows in Brooklyn

In a loft in Brooklyn’s most vibrant arts district, Bushwick, live Terri Chiao and Adam Frezza, along with their 6-month-old daughter, Tove, and cat Giro. Together, the pair go by Chiaozza and are known for their giant sculpture field at Coachella, installations with Nike and Régime des Fleurs, and electric-hued work peppered throughout the US. Bold palettes are their forte—whether in the form of paper-pulp sculptures in far-out shapes, geometric murals, or 3-D paintings.

“Experimentation and play are strong foundations of our practice,” says Frezza. “That’s the only way for me to make something that’s not belabored or overthought,” adds Chiao.

The 750-square-foot apartment they share is a reflection of this creative energy. Chiao first moved into the space in 2007, building two raised tree house–like structures in light-blond wood as a way to cordon off areas and take advantage of the tall ceilings without having to put up walls.

When Frezza joined, he slowly brought in brightly hued textiles, ceramics, and art. “All the walls are white, and I think that’s a way to reserve color for special moments,” says Chiao, who has a background in architecture and is drawn to the simple materials and clean lines of Japanese and Scandinavian minimalism.

Although their studio is located just around the corner, the couple’s works-in-progress and recently completed pieces often settle in the loft, which acts as a makeshift gallery. “We think of it as a different zone, a different art project,” says Frezza of the home. The backdrop provides a place for Chiaozza’s palette to really pop—which is inspired by everything from industrial materials (orange traffic cones, fluorescent yellow warning signs) to nature (pink and purple sunsets).

With the duo often riffing and rearranging—cutting a dining room table from a rectangle into an oval or building closets into an unused area beneath the tree house—the space continues to evolve. “Being around each other when we are creating keeps stuff happening,” says Chiao.

This story originally appeared in the spring 2018 issue with the headline “A Tree House Grows in Brooklyn.”

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