The Cobble Hill Townhouse by Workshop/APD boldly re-imagines the traditional Brooklyn townhome. Conventional masonry construction consists of stacked, punched openings- a standardized grid of horizontal and vertical bands of brick. However, in this home, the rear facade transforms the relationship between the residence and its outdoor space. A full-height steel moment frame allows for floor-to-ceiling glazing which creates a direct visual connection between the interior and the private exterior rear yard.
The street-facing facade of the five-story residence references traditional townhouse elements, including a solid masonry expression and a protruding main staircase leading to the front entrance. Shifts in window locations and openings, however, reveal the design freedom afforded by the steel-framed structure beneath.
Inside, the opportunities offered by the steel skeletal frame are evident in wide open spaces from front to back. The feature staircase wraps an elevator core that seemingly floats from one story to the next. At the cellar level, the glazed rear façade connects the interior to a private patio and landscaped yard beyond.
PROJECT TEAM
Architect: Workshop/APD, General Contractor: R. Sutton & Co., Landscape Architect: Gunn Landscape Architecture
