This 4000 square foot townhouse, a private residence in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, revives a historic construction technique that is unique to this neighborhood in New York, but updates it with design features and details that reinterpret the townhouse typology.Balloon frame townhouse buildings are highly unusual in New York City, but this area of Williamsburg is full of them. Peterson Rich Office responded to this context by reconstructing a 2,000 square foot wood frame building in place of the original structure that was on the site.This code-required structural strategy effectively encapsulates the old within the new — posting two columns down at the street wall to support two large beams that span to the rear.
A steel-and-glass structure on the upper levels adds another 2,000 square feet.The large bay window is an expression of this difference, both materially and volumetrically. The resulting single-family home has a light-filled central circulation core and generous interconnected living areas. Designed to accommodate a growing family, each new floor is planned with flexibility and adaptability in mind. The building is clad in a Manganese Ironspot Artisinal Brick, Mahogany Frame windows, and Flush-Glazed Large Panel glass. These textured, refined materials at once relate the building to adjacent brick structures and set it apart with contemporary detailing.
