Located in a 19th century grand mansion in the historic
neighborhood of Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, the residence occupies
two floors at the top of the building and within the roofline. The
project involved a gut renovation that included major structural
interventions to remove internal walls previously used to
separate traditional living spaces.
The lower floor is now a single, open plan living area surrounded
by discreetly incorporated service functions and storage
elements. White oak wood floors and exposed blackened
ceiling joists counter one another to highlight the perimeter
wall surfaces which contain both original historical casement
details and distinctly modern cabinetry elements. A single
monolithic black soapstone counter with integral sink is the sole
architectural element set within this boundary framework.
On the upper floor, the two bedrooms and bathroom are
reached via a staircase that has been rebuilt using the same
white oak wood in a seamless continuation of the lower level. In
the bedrooms, the roofline geometry is embraced as the primary
architectural element in otherwise minimal open rooms with
built-in closets. The bathroom materials are handcrafted cement
tiles, large format porcelain tiles which are used to form the bath
shower area, and unlacquered brass fixtures that will patinate
naturally over time.