Prospect Heights Studio

Brooklyn, New York
2024

This rectangular two-story masonry building was constructed for food warehousing at the turn of the century. In the 1960s the building was converted into a printing house, during which time the second floor and roof were removed and replaced with a concrete structure to support the craning of printing inks. The studio houses two main programmatic functions: to display and to create. A gallery is located adjacent to the sidewalk and entry. A studio space is located at the rear and connects to a newly installed garden. A three-level volume was inserted between these two spaces and contains a kitchenette, stair to the roof, and library. Five large openings were cut into the concrete roof structure, allowing skylights to daylight spaces below. The garden is viewed from the studio through an enlarged opening. Hedged European hornbeam trees provide year round visual interest.