Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, NY

4000 sf

An 1869 Italianate townhouse, vacant for two years and untouched for decades, stood as a glorious mess—its third-floor printmaking studio still cluttered with a press, inks, and phone numbers from the 1970s. The artist-architect couple who purchased it envisioned an owner’s triplex above a garden apartment, designed for visiting friends and family. What followed was a complete transformation: a full gut renovation of the landmarked townhouse. Because its years as an SRO had stripped away nearly all historic details, the house offered an unusual advantage: the freedom to reimagine the interior as a contemporary villa.

Outside, the façade was restored to its historic character, honoring the neighborhood context. Inside, the mood shifts to intimate and current, defined by curved walls and ceilings that reinterpret classical mouldings, and by the artworks and objects made by friends. Each room is a monochrome environment, set against a central stairway that curves from parlor to top floor. The stairwell’s fluid lines and creamy white walls act as a unifier, while color-coded doors offer a preview of the saturated palettes within: red, green, pink.

The parlor level is open and loft-like, with soaring ceilings and a custom elliptical light that mirrors the geometry of the curves. The kitchen opens onto the back deck and garden, while green expanded metal decking brings air and light into the lower-level patio. Above, a private bedroom floor leads to a family reading room beneath a sloped roof with skylights, expanding the sense of openness. The office space is a “box” within the house—curved plywood walls and ceilings rendered in warm simplicity.

Equally important were the unseen improvements. All systems were replaced, gas service eliminated, and passive house–quality windows installed. Insulation was increased and a natural fan system added, ensuring airflow and reducing the building’s environmental footprint.

Project Architects:

Michael Hoehn, Ziyue Wang

PHOTOGRAPHY

Amy Barkow