Located in the heart of the Greenwich Village historic district in New York City, this project called for the complete renovation of a five- story, 1830’s townhouse. The historic Federal Style façade was carefully preserved during construction, as were a majority of the existing interior floor plates. Behind this masonry face we created a new world centered around light, space, openness, and revelation. New apertures through floors and ceilings channel natural light from the skylight down to the lowest level.
To extend the experience out to the garden and up to the sky, a dramatic four- story wall of glass envelops the back of the house, joining the interior to nature through views out to the rear garden and the existing mature plantings that were protected throughout construction. By carving out the earth at the garden level of the home, we created a seamless connection to the rear terrace. On the roof, we created a new penthouse space that similarly connects to a terrace garden.
The functionally defined areas were reimagined to be uniquely suited to the lives, everyday experiences, and sensibilities of the owners. What was once a cozy, traditional family home made up of many discreet rooms is now a vertical loft, conceived and composed to bring nature and light to life in the middle of one of the densest cities in the world.