WEST VILLAGE TOWNHOUSE
New York, NY
Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, this 1829 townhouse has a long history of renovation and addition. A floor was added to the original two-story Federal-style house, and the façade updated. Conceived as the next chapter in the building’s history, our renovation exploits several unique site conditions to restore the structure to a single-family residence adapted for contemporary living.
In order to comply with current building code, we built an entirely new structure behind the landmarked façade. Due to its small footprint, our design focuses on expanding the house vertically. Excavating the garden level, we created a generous ceiling height for a family room, and a rooftop addition equipped with an outdoor fireplace and cooking area provides expansive views of the city. The new cantilevered wood stair winds through the 5-story house, adding visual connection.
The design for the rooftop addition was highly scrutinized by the Landmarks Preservation Commission due to the building’s visibility from 8th Avenue. We looked at the precedent of the artist’s studio – a common method of building additions during the 1960s – for a language in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. The LPC-mandated setbacks from the front and rear facades were an opportunity to create landscaped terraces that function as extensions of the interior living spaces.
By opening a former boiler room below the rear garden we are creating a multi-level green space which offers views from the parlor-level kitchen and elevator landings, lending a sense of seclusion.
PROJECT TEAM:
Timothy Bade, Jane Stageberg, Martin Cox, Karl Landsteiner
Located in the heart of Greenwich Village, this 1829 townhouse has a long history of renovation and addition. A floor was added to the original two-story Federal-style house, and the façade updated. Conceived as the next chapter in the building’s history, our renovation exploits several unique site conditions to restore the structure to a single-family residence adapted for contemporary living.
In order to comply with current building code, we built an entirely new structure behind the landmarked façade. Due to its small footprint, our design focuses on expanding the house vertically. Excavating the garden level, we created a generous ceiling height for a family room, and a rooftop addition equipped with an outdoor fireplace and cooking area provides expansive views of the city. The new cantilevered wood stair winds through the 5-story house, adding visual connection.
The design for the rooftop addition was highly scrutinized by the Landmarks Preservation Commission due to the building’s visibility from 8th Avenue. We looked at the precedent of the artist’s studio – a common method of building additions during the 1960s – for a language in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. The LPC-mandated setbacks from the front and rear facades were an opportunity to create landscaped terraces that function as extensions of the interior living spaces.
By opening a former boiler room below the rear garden we are creating a multi-level green space which offers views from the parlor-level kitchen and elevator landings, lending a sense of seclusion.
PROJECT TEAM: Timothy Bade, Jane Stageberg, Martin Cox, Karl Landsteiner