This 4000sf townhouse, a private residence in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, revives a historic construction technique that is unique to this neighborhood in New York, but updates it with design features and details that reinterpret the townhouse typology.

Wood frame townhouse buildings are highly unusual in New York City, but this area of Williamsburg is full of them. We responded to this context by reconstructing a 2,000 square foot wood frame building in place of the original structure that was on the site. A steel-and-glass structure on the upper levels adds another 2,000 square feet. The bay window, common to so many townhouses, is interpreted here as a dramatic floor-to-ceiling prismatic glass wall on the upper levels.

PRO takes a unique approach to design and construction, collaborating with engineers and contractors in the early stages of the project. This townhouse is an excellent example of the benefits of that approach, with design details that push the envelope in terms of material use and technology.

The building is primarily clad in a Manganese Ironspot Artisinal Brick, Mahogany Frame windows, and Flush-Glazed Large Panel glass. These textured, refined materials at once relate the building to adjacent brick structures, and set it apart with contemporary detailing.