Contemporary Townhouse Passive House

Cobble Hill Passive House

This light-filled Cobble Hill project involved gut renovating a mid-1800s townhouse, upgrading it to Passive House standards, and filling the home with fun, surprising design elements.

The rear façade contained a narrow, four-story extension – a feature commonly added to NYC rowhouses. In order to increase functionality in that narrow space on the parlor and garden floors, we added a two-story extension. The result evened out the proportions of the buildings.

When we converted this space from a kitchenette into the primary bathroom, passive detailing allowed us to remove the mechanicals at the windows. The result is a large primary bathroom with a freestanding tub tucked between the triple-glazed windows.

One of the most magical parts of the renovation was in the cellar, which we took from unfinished storage to a speakeasy-inspired space, complete with a full bar and musical entertainment area.

We collaborated with the clients and BIA Interiors to bring rich jewel tones and dark wood tones throughout the house. The result is a home that feels deeply personal, while still feeling light and crisp, throughout the entire house.

A hidden door built into a bookshelf leads you down to a speakeasy-inspired cellar.

The client's creative additions made the house so special – from psychedelic wallpaper in a listening room to a salvaged church pew that was repurposed to provide a unique cafe-style seating arrangement in the dining room.