Single Family Townhouse Enlargement

Tree | House
 

A collection of unique spaces for family living

The Tree | House is a vertical enlargement of a century-old brownstone.  Our goal with this project was to open up the interior and create a variety of interior and exterior spaces.  Each space has a unique relationship to natural light, the cityscape, the great oak in the rear yard, and the human scale.  There is space for everyone and every time.  There are spaces for individuals and collectives, spaces for every time of day or season, and spaces for different levels of social engagement.  The first level provides a grounded experience, with views towards the street and garden activities.  With grand, open proportions, this level retains hints of its past.  It overlooks both the vibrant streetscape and a secluded garden.  The middle level incorporates places for the individual.  Each room is scaled to be a cozy alternative to the house’s other options.  Each room has a framed view.  The top-level contains the brightest and airiest spaces.  An oversized skylight that leads to the roof caps the vertically proportioned top-level.  The changing sunlight from the above allows everywhere in the house to experience the current state of the climate.  This light beckons people to the roof where views overlook the tree and the neighboring buildings, providing unobstructed views of the city’s silhouette.

The First Floor (Under the Canopy)

In the heart of the open-plan is a long bartop with a compressed ceiling. This ceiling plane designates three unique spaces; the central kitchen, a dining area in the streetside, and a sitting area in the rear. In the front, direct sunlight streams through arched openings with original built-in shutters. In the back, a restored, cast-iron, mantel pairs with a blackened steel terrace and a wall of glass, each dappled with light the oak beyond.

The Second Floor (Lower Canopy)

In the guest room, the perspective is deep within the under-canopy of the oak tree, creating a sense of refuge. On the mezzanine resides a stationary bike with a streetside vista. It delivers a comforting sense of shelter and a connection to street life. The main corridor is adjacent to the mezzanine. Bath in diffuse light and similar to a tree branch, the details of the stair and railing become more tenuous as one ascends.

The Top Floors (Above the Canopy)

At the top level, the stair arrives in a lofty, naturally lit family room. The room features a Southern wall of glass that is tempered by an overhang that shields the accompanying exterior terrace. From the intimate terrace, the residents can survey the neighborhood and admire the skyline beyond. Above is the rooftop, a place for family activities, featuring children's play areas, an outdoor shower, and several specialty nooks.

Drawings
  • Location Park Slope | Brooklyn, New York
  • Collaborators Structural Engineer | Celin Munoz Consulting Engineer
    MEP Engineer | Ramirez and Azadian Analysis and Design
    Builder | Ilir Shalsi
  • Size 3,400sf
  • Status Completed | 2019
  • Photographer Jody Kivort

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