Contemporary Townhouse

Wood Framed Townhouse

Our client came to us with great excitement to bring this home back to life and pay respect to its venerable history. The wood-framed, freestanding house sits just outside a Landmarked District. This allowed our designs to integrate old and new elements into the house, creating a highly functional home without wiping the history of the building.

Exterior of a wood-framed Greenpoint townhouse with cedar siding, planters in front of the home and windows, and black window and door openings at night. — One of the most dramatic changes made to the home was the removal of the siding, replacing it with new clear cedar that will weather naturally with age.

Greenpoint townhouse before our renovation, with white siding and dark window and door openings — One of the most dramatic changes made to the home was the removal of the siding, replacing it with new clear cedar that will weather naturally with age.

Exterior of a wood-framed Greenpoint townhouse with cedar siding, rear yard, and black window and door openings. — At the rear of the house, enlarged openings increase natural light to the rear of the house, and a one-story addition created a wider kitchen on the first floor. Triple sliding doors create a direct connection to the rear yard, where we installed new stone pavers, a custom cedar fence, and a cedar hot tub to match the new siding.

Living room in a Greenpoint townhouse with large brick fireplace, acoustic guitar, carpeted floors, and large window

Greenpoint roof deck with wood pavers and a solar array

Glazed roof hatch on a Greenpoint roof deck with black railings

Note from the Architect

Passive measures and a rooftop solar array reduced the home's carbon footprint, resulting in a decrease in heating and cooling demand and increasing building longevity.

Kitchen island, exposed beam, and seating area with a grey sectional and gallery wall in a Greenpoint townhouse.

Foyer after renovation, with exposed brick wall, double height space, refurbished wood floors, and a woman walking up the stairs to the left

Stair hallway and double height space at the front of a Greenpoint townhouse after renovation

Original wide plank subfloors at the parlor were sanded and refinished to recall the centuries-long history of the home. Reclaimed white pine, sourced from the neighborhood, was used for the fireplace mantel and shelving. We uncovered the original masonry fireproofing when we opened up the walls, a surprise that we incorporated into the double-height foyer.