Site size: 1,800 square feet

Project size: 640 square feet (remodel + addition)

Program: Instead of sacrificing their 11-foot-wide row house for a larger dwelling, the architect and his wife chose to add two levels, including an additional bedroom, to their two-story, two-bedroom home in order to accommodate their two growing children, and to remain in the Brooklyn neighborhood that they had come to admire.

Location: Brooklyn, New York

Solution: The original 1,000-square-foot, two-story dwelling was completely gutted. A bedroom suite was added above, and a new urban mudroom was dug out below. The narrowness of the house required the design to make effective use of the space: precise positioning of walls, doors, and windows was crucial. The lowest level serves as a new entry, storage, laundry, and mechanical area; the first floor, which opens out to gardens in both the front and the rear of the house, is a continuous public space with living and dining rooms, a kitchen, and a library. The second floor contains two childrens’ bedrooms along with a 2-sink bathroom, while the master suite, a additional bathroom, balcony, and terrace are located on the uppermost floor.

Construction and materials: Most of the original structure—load-bearing masonry and wood joists—was either preserved, reinforced, or rebuilt.  The new rooftop addition is clad in a charred knotty cedar. Materials throughout the home are modest, natural, and unassuming; the rawness of unfinished steel and character-grade walnut is juxtaposed with the simple refinement of honed Carrara marble and matte ceramic hex tiles.

Additional Information

Completion date: September 2017

Gross square footage: 1,800 square feet