Cobble Hill Townhouse by Shapeless Studio

Embodying the forever home of a young couple living in New York, Cobble Hill Townhouse by Shapeless Studio combines a traditional facade with vibrant interiors and a rebuilt rear.

Set in the Cobble Hill Historic District in Brooklyn, New York, Cobble Hill Townhouse is a renovated 19th-century home. As the traditional brick facade – complete with external cornice detailing, a brownstone stoop and wood double-hung windows – is retained, the renovated townhouse sits in visual harmony with neighbouring builds. “From the outset, they [the clients] wanted a graciously sized primary suite, two or three spare bedrooms for future children and a parlour floor well-suited to host large gatherings of family and friends,” says Andrea Fisk, co-founder of Shapeless Studio. The ground floor, currently rented, occupies a separate apartment and therefore has its own entrance beneath the front stoop.

Set in the Cobble Hill Historic District in Brooklyn, New York, Cobble Hill Townhouse emerges from an existing 19th-century home.

“When we initially surveyed the home, we were surprised to learn that the floor plan was actually a parallelogram!” says Fisk. “We didn’t notice it in person at first, because the angle was very slight, but much of our design was dictated by how to build precisely while making the angled walls less obvious.” Some traditional features such as fireplaces cannot be moved, so the position of objects is thoroughly considered to ensure an intuitive layout. “In this project, we worked with an AV team to hide the television behind a piece of artwork, which is mounted on an art lift, so the artwork rises to reveal the television behind,” says Fisk.

To the rear of Cobble Hill Townhouse, the architecture is substantially altered to improve its functionality. “This home was built to last, and sustainability upgrades incorporated into the project include adding new insulation to all the exterior walls, installing new triple-pane windows and a high-efficiency mechanical system,” says Fisk. Large French doors added to the kitchen provide an expansive view of the backyard and, on the second floor, an outdoor terrace is joined to the primary bedroom, offering a peaceful vantage point.

To the rear of Cobble Hill Townhouse, the architecture is substantially altered to improve its functionality.

Across the renovation work, Shapeless Studio uses repairable materials with a natural finish, which reduce embodied carbon. Natural stones, fluted glass and handmade Zellige tiles complement furnishings varied in colour, texture and silhouette, reflecting the clients’ adventurous taste in decoration. “The primary bathroom is especially striking,” says Fisk. “It almost looks as if it’s carved from the inside of a marble block.” As a personal touch, the brass handles in the kitchen and dressing room are custom-made by the father of one of the clients who owns a metal manufacturing business specialising in precision machining.

Defined by both contemporary and traditional elements, Cobble Hill Townhouse is well-suited to a modern couple residing in a historic neighbourhood. Through colour, material and spatial arrangement, Shapeless Studio establishes the clients’ forever home, a joyous place to live and entertain.

Architecture and interior design by Shapeless Studio. Build by Naccarato Contracting.