Williamsburg Townhouse

Brooklyn, New York
2023

The project’s neighborhood is an evolving mix of traditional rowhouse buildings and modern construction. Here, the historic red brick facade is restored. Additions are clad in copper and lime washed brick, distinct from pre-existing elements. The project is driven by materials and their intrinsic detail.

The interior spaces of the townhouse are linked by a sculptural plaster stair, culminating in a rooftop with expansive views. Key to feel and function, salvaged heart-pine beams were reimagined throughout. Domestic marble swirls through bathrooms and the kitchen island. In a nod to a classic local motif, cast-glass vault lights are embedded in the rear yard, daylighting the cellar below.

These materials, among others, play out across a generously proportioned layout tailored to the occupants. The interiors are furnished with a mix of collected pieces and those created specifically for the project, including a checkered walnut gaming table.

Heart pine beams were reclaimed from an 1850s building elsewhere in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to their use as structural elements, the joists were milled into flooring, decking, veneer, and used to create exterior windows. Nail holes and visible checking were left as a reminder of their past.

A handmade brass bathtub was created and installed in the primary bedroom/bathroom ensemble. A small brass tub maquette was created for approval prior to fabrication of the final fixture. The completed tub was patinated in situ.

In reference to a classic New York City design element, cast-glass vault lights are embedded into the rear yard, bringing natural light into the cellar below. A concrete slab was poured with circular cutouts to accommodate custom-finished glass blocks.