Dezeen Magazine

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

Office of Architecture includes rooftop bedroom suite in Brooklyn row house overhaul

Brooklyn-based Office of Architecture has completely gutted and expanded a local row house for an architect, jewellery designer and their two children.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

Having lived in the home for eight years, the family chose to stay in the up-and-coming neighbourhood and renovate the 1,000-square-foot (93-square-metre) home.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

"The owners of this 11-foot-wide row house in Brooklyn were faced with a conundrum that many young families in New York eventually confront: the possibility of sacrificing location for space," said Office of Architecture.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

Tucked away in South Slope near New York's harbour and Prospect Park, the Brooklyn row house was fully renovated and nearly doubled in size.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

The narrowness of the site posed a challenge for Office of Architecture, who needed to create extra floor area without using more lot space.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

Therefore, the studio added two new storeys to the original two-storey home: a rooftop master suite and a renovated cellar.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

A staircase was moved to the opposite side of the building, and a lightwell was created to draw sunshine and air through the interior. A new entryway was also designed through the basement, along with additional laundry and storage space.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

On the ground floor, an open-plan living space with a family room is located where the original entryway used to be. A dining space joins the area, and includes a built-in bench and shelving system.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

A galley kitchen at the far end features a white cabinets and Carrara marble countertops. A long, narrow window runs along one of the counters, and a glazed door opens to the backyard.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

White walls line the interior, with black and white accents throughout. Rustic walnut floors and wooden furniture add warmth to the otherwise monochrome interior.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

Two children's rooms are found on the second floor, with a two-sink bathroom in between. In the rooftop extension, a master bedroom with en-suite has access to two separate terraces on either side.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

"The result is a home that is not just larger, but livelier – filled with the possibility to do more and stay longer in a city that requires its residents to be resourceful and inventive," said the firm.

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture

Many row houses are being renovated throughout Brooklyn for young, growing families seeking more space. In neighbouring Sunset Park, Bostudio has redesigned an open-layout row house, while Barker Freeman has added more windows onto a brick residence in the borough.

More images and plans

Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Floor plan
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Existing floor plan
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Cross section
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Section plans
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture
Brooklyn Row House 1 by Office of Architecture