Williamsburg Townhouse

Tranquil Modern Home

This project is the comprehensive gut renovation and rehabilitation of a townhouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The house dates to the 1850s and was the residence of workers from the nearby Domino Sugar refinery. After decades of neglect, the property was in severe disrepair. This tragedy culminated in the 1990s when wood debris stored in the house caught fire. The clients, a musician who trades in securities and a textile designer, brought Agencie to restore the historic property and construct a modern 2-story addition in the rear yard. The result is a “spacious and light-filled home ready for the next 150 years.”

Designers have perched the dining room and the living room above the expansive garden. Agencie engineered a steel support that allowed the rear wall to be blown out and replaced with a steel storefront window. The new storefront floods the room with light and provides a panoramic view of the lush garden.

Williamsburg Townhouse Rearyard Stair

Agencie added a sense of texture to elements such as ceilings and floors. For example, the stamped tin ceiling, fabricated by a local Brooklyn tinsmith, gives rich texture to the main floor. The embossed, historic ceilings complement a modern Henry-built kitchen and a sleek Lacanche stove.

The project was conceived and built in 2009 during the crash in the housing market. Agencie acted as architect, engineer, and builder. This synergistic, streamlined approach reduced the budget and saved the clients a considerable amount of money.