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Filling in the gaps of existing street wall requires restraint to avoid overpowering the neighborhood and should create a statement at the same time. For this particular structure, we attempted to do just that. Alignment of streetwall height and continuation of materials allow old and new to co-exist. The rear of the building provides a greater vertical scale than the front because the entire rear yard has been excavated down to the cellar level. The varying articulations on the façade help to signify the differing interiors. Living rooms have floor to ceiling windows, while bedrooms have glass sliding doors with balconies and high clerestory windows. The evolution of this building type continues, culminating in this loft style, 25 X 100 lot walk-up. In addition to the loft space, interiors are fitted with European style bath fixtures, wood and glass cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, glass vanities with rainfall fixtures and stone finishes.

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New buildings are meant to enhance their context. Offsetting grey brick veneer against the different tones of stucco and aluminum creates a visually interesting composition. White stucco element wrapping around the building give it a sense of lightness, or "passing through". The vertical line of black stucco along the left side of the building ties together the various elements in the façade. Punched round windows in the center give the viewer a visual break from the grid of the facade.

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Varying heights and multiple setbacks create playful juxtapositions of massing. Punched windows with grid-like mullions are setoff against striated glass curtain walls. Different tones of grey stucco can also enhance the rhythm of the facade.

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An abandoned one story warehouse building is converted and enlarged to create a special residential development with single unit apartments on each of the new upper floors. By following the New York City Zoning Resolution for height factor calculations and alternate sky exposure planes, a tower rises from the existing base of the building without setbacks or offsets. These two bedroom - two bath floor plans contain separate utility rooms for heating and cooling units as well as a hot water heater and laundry rooms. Elevators open directly into the apartments, which, when coupled with the ten foot clear ceiling height and open kitchens, create a loft like feel to the units for the buyers that is a tribute to the original artist loft concept. Multiple balconies at the front and rear give 360 The base of the building was converted into parking and a small medical office, while the non-conforming use was continued as a studio for the owner of the development, a proficient artist. This space will serve as the Brooklyn location for his creations. The upper floors of the building contain have two units with double height spaces. With no neighboring buildings at this height, the buyers of these units will enjoy unobstructed views form every room.

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Over the last few years, residential development has pushed into areas that have historically been zoned as manufacturing or commercial. This growth has been spawned by buyers looking for affordable housing, and those searching for opportunities for new development. Aided by the lowest interest rate in years, the two groups have contributed to one of the largest real estate booms in recent memory. Pioneering tenants and buyers are now welcoming locations which never would have been considered previously. "Marginal" or "fringe" neighborhoods are being targeted as prime sites, and new buildings are springing up at every available location. This 25 x100 ft. lot has helped push development forward, allowing a building type which is economical to build and thereby affordable for buyers. Each of the four floors typically house two units, for a total of eight families. There is no elevator and no parking, which allows a greater percentage of the gross building to be useable. The metal grillage and stone facade style of the structure is taken from the monumental buildings surrounding it. Blending with the character of its industrial neighbors creates a unique style of residential building, complementary to the open loft-style apartments contained within.

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A quiet revolution is occurring on a sleepy East Williamsburg block. Within this mixed-use district, dozens of new buildings are being constructed. Small walk up, multi-family residential buildings have been the rule in the area. Every vacant lot is ripe for development. Maintaining the individuality of this four building group by putting separate entries, stairs and utilities, meant that a parking lot (considered less crucial to sales), could be eliminated. This freed up the cellar and ground floor area to become garden duplex apartments. Masonry was chosen as an exterior veneer system, complimentary to the finish of many of the surrounding structures. Exposed masonry continues on the interior walls of the living rooms, which in most cases are over 15 feet high A simple palate of masonry, glass and pre-caste stone creates a modern façade reminiscent of brick used in the early days of Louis Kahn. A strong building presence closes the gap in the street wall. The loft-style interiors create a style of living, which has become the norm in this burgeoning community.

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Creating a solid surface by using aluminum louvers as screens achieves an effect through which the eye reads the building as a geometric shape; a stone box divided by a cross shape filled in by louvers. Subtle detail variances, such as the louvers wrapping around the building or the offset window in the dormers, give this otherwise symmetric building the much needed asymmetry it deserves.

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On a unique corner lot on a quiet Midwood block, a special building was created to meet the demand for young families eager to remain in Brooklyn. Built within the context of small scale apartment buildings in the area, this modern interpretation makes a bold statement in an otherwise sedate setting. Large expanses of glass and an extensive use of metal panels and trim created a style that blends with, yet separates itself from its milieu. Family style simplex and duplex apartments of two and three bedrooms with a ground floor medical office space and parking garages capture all of the floor area and bulk permitted by the Quality Housing Program of the New York City Zoning Resolution.

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Using a palette of metal panel & stucco, a sharp façade composed of angular lines has been pulled from the site At only four stories high, the three double height stories fill the volume of the 60' high building envelope, allowing for dramatic loft-like interiors with floor to ceiling glass. All units have two levels and include open kitchens, generous storage spaces, outdoor recreation spaces, and attractive details that recall elements from the façade within the apartments. At only 25' wide x 85' deep, this irregular lot is now home to ten families and one office, and signifies the dirsction the neighborhood will be taking under the New York City Quality Housing Program. A self imposed height limitation allowed increased floor areas, and increased density, helping to offset higher land costs. Other zoning bonuses we achieved thru providing outdoor recreation spaces, on site laundry, and street tree planting.

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Utilizing existing buildings can be a daunting undertaking when the aesthetic character contradicts a modern vernacular. This existing structure presented such a challenge. Built to house a population of 50 children, this modest 1930's two story brick building, represented an institutional style inherent in buildings of that period. By maintaining the original facade and enveloping it in the new addition, its historic nature could be preserved and a design was created that acts as a backdrop to this small jewel. A simple palette of modern finishes, including brick and metal panels, provide a clean, minimalist backdrop to the remaining structure. Large expanses of glass and high ceilings give the new apartments a light and airy feeling. Other amenities include a full service parking garage, exercise and meeting rooms, outdoor recreation decks, Italian kitchen and bath cabinetry, European fixtures and marble and granite finishes. A large medical office at the first floor makes this a mixed use development. These new residential opportunities into the Clinton Hill Historic District will assist with the stability of the area.