Leonard Street Rowhouse

A penthouse and townhouse meet within the corbeled brick facade of an intimate, distinct rowhouse in Greenpoint. On the exterior, a modular brick unit is transformed and welcomes people into a warm wood threshold – a material found repeatedly inside that unites the interior and exterior. Both the penthouse and townhouse support family living, and articulate recognizable New York City typologies – the “penthouse”, with its views and connection to the sky – the “townhouse”, rooted in the ground, with opportunities for integrating with nature. The exterior mass subtly defines these two homes with a gentle push and pull of masonry, relief, and shadow. The building borrows from the residential vernacular of Brooklyn homes from the past two centuries – masonry façade, punched openings, a shared stoop, wood accents, and planters create a façade that is both contemporary and familiar, affording two families a home that is distinct and integrates into its context.