Search

A Brooklyn Townhouse in Touch with Nature

RES4 recently completed a five story townhouse for a young family of four in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Living in a city often takes away one’s sense of nature, so the client wanted to establish an indoor-outdoor connection on every floor, whether it be through material selection or an architectural modification.

The townhouse’s grid-like façade consists of brick and black aluminum, while a cedar rainscreen provides a natural touch. Though the home boasts large windows, many of them are shielded by cedar slats to maintain privacy.

A mudroom greets visitors as they walk inside. Once past the mudroom, the space opens up into a guest bedroom and playroom. Despite the space limitations of the narrow 25-foot lot, each floor in the townhome provides access to the outdoors, including the base level, which opens to a garden.

The main level features a grand, double-height living space. A sunken living room holds its own with custom teak furnishings and a large aquarium, while an in-home theater comes in the form of a sofa pod overlooking the entire living area.

Nearby, the kitchen features a standout curved white Corian island that transitions from a counter to a mod, circular breakfast banquette.

A visible staircase acts as the entire home’s anchor, connecting each level and making the vertical space feel like a natural living environment. A steel wall that runs through all five stories supports the staircase’s open-tread wooden stairs.

A mezzanine level sits above the living area and opens up to a balcony facing the street.

Two kids’ bedrooms and a master bedroom occupy the third floor. The master bedroom opens up to a private balcony with sliding glass doors.

Photos by RES4.

Emily Engle is a freelance writer based in NYC with an interest in all things design, specifically the design process. When she's not writing about design, Emily can either be found taking care of her 31 houseplants, going on "nature" walks in her neighborhood or studying Japanese.