One of our recent interiors projects, Joralemon Upgrade, will be open for viewing in conjunction with the Brooklyn Heights Association’s Landmark House & Garden tour. Click here to get your tickets!
“On a street that was once a crooked path which, in the first years of the 19th century, ran from the banks of the East River to the large Philip Livingston Estate, we’ll be visiting a house built in 1847. Inside, you’ll be treated to an interesting art collection and inventive interior design.”
Stephen Sullivan, a project designer here at CWB, was highlighted in a recent edition of nytimes.com’s “The Hunt.” The interview track’s his hunt for a place to call home in Brooklyn. Congratulations, Stephen! Check out the article here. This is our second time being featured in this section. In 2008, Catherine Brophy, part of our interior design team, was featured when she also relocated from Manhattan’s West Village. Her article can be seen here.
Check out the latest installment of Demo to Decor, Park Slope edition. This episode explores the rear facade construction and our unique design approach at the new rear extension.
PROJECTED COMPLETION | Fall 2013
PARTNER IN CHARGE | Ward Welch
DESIGN TEAM | Gaither Pratt, Jesse Fearins, Stephen Sullivan, Jean-Luc Torchon, Yuliya Ilizarov
CWB was asked to design a complete renovation and new addition to an existing Connecticut home overlooking the water. The 3,500 sf addition is to include a kitchen, family room, master suite, family bedrooms, as well as various work, utility and outdoor spaces. This addition replaces a smaller 1960′s addition, and the remaining 4,500 sf of the original house will be completely renovated. Additionally, CWB designed a new 2,600 sf 2-story garage with work studio, gym and music room to replace the existing garage. Landscaping and site work will unify the buildings and designate various outdoor living and play spaces.
Brendan Coburn has recently been partnering with Street Easy to bring some insight to the process of owning a rowhouse. Check out the following “episode” detailing facade renovations happening at a Park Slope brownstone.
Check out more on Street Easy’s Own Your Home blog.
CWB recently commissioned Francis Dzikowski of Esto to photograph the Linda Gross Theater on 20th street in Chelsea, Manhattan. The first round of images are now up on our site, check them out HERE. Note the unique donor sign designed by a local DUMBO firm, emphas!s design inc. Be sure to check out a show soon! [More info on Atlantic Theater HERE.]
Initial ground breaking has begun at the site of the new townhouses on the corner of Kane St and Strong Pl. Brownstoner has been following the progress of this project with the developer, Donald Brennan. Check out the string of articles here and here. We will post photos of the work as it progresses so check back!
Update: Brennan Realty has begun a video series about this project that you can follow here: The Strong Place Project
As an integral part of the architectural practice, scale models can help not only convey a design but also the personality of the design firm. Each model we create begins with a specific purpose that continues to expand over the lifespan of a project.
This large scale study model of a proposed stair was built to highlight the details and connections between the treads, risers, and railing which will be a combination of wood and steel. It ultimately allowed the client to make a quick decision about the design.
A new project was recently added to our Bits & Pieces section: Brooklyn Heights Federal. Its already getting some press on local blogs given its previous celebrity status when it was featured in the Cohen Brothers’ film, Burn After Reading. Check out the articles on ny.curbed.com and the Brooklyn Heights blog.
Our in-house photographer, Rachael Stollar, recently took a trip to Woodstock, NY to photograph this recently completed project. Captured just before the end of the fall season, these images give an indication of how the house is already starting to blend with its natural surrounds. Check out the full set of project photos here: Bug Acres.
CWB was featured in an article about current brownstone renovations in Brooklyn and how the process has evolved since the early ’70s. Our own restoration project, Carroll Gardens Comeback, was featured as an example of a modern brownstone reno. Check out the article here.
The last installation of the “spotlight on masonry” articles that Brendan wrote up for streeteasy.com has been posted. Check it out here, along with the previous two articles: Greek Revival & Italianate Rowhouse.
Looking to advance their “Own Your Home” blog, Street Easy asked Brendan Coburn to contribute a series of articles highlighting Brooklyn’s brownstone row houses. Brownstone renovations are an essential part of what we do here at CWB, each new project presenting its own unique blend of issues. Check out the first installment here!
StreetEasy.com’s new blog “Own Your Home” includes Brendan Coburn on its list of contributors. Check out his first article here.
Some finishing touches happening in Woodstock, NY. This sculptural fixture is a Lindsay Adelman glass globe chandelier that will hang over a custom white oak dining table with a blackened steel base.
Restoring the facade of this Brooklyn Heights row house was not originally part of this renovation. Nature, however, had other plans. During Hurricane Irene in 2011, a large (and notably historic) American elm tree fell onto the facade, creating significant damage to the existing asbestos clapboard siding. The Owner was forced to explore options for new siding and finally decided upon historically appropriate wood clapboard through the direction of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The final result has given the house an enhanced presence on the street, re-establishing its historical origins.
BEFORE
and…. Continue reading
The main challenge facing this brownstone stair hall was its lack of natural light and clumsy circulation. With a few key design moves, we were able to open up the space, and provide ample natural daylight to an otherwise somber area typical of century old row houses.
The existing stair hall suffered from a lack of natural light and tunnel-like layout.
The stairs at this 4-story row house in Boerum Hill had to be refurbished and the original railing had been replaced during a previous renovation. To replicate the original detailing with a winding wooden handrail would have forced the Owner to sacrifice in other areas. They needed an option that would showcase the stair while being relatively inexpensive. CWB came up with a sculptural steel and walnut railing extending from the top of the stairs to the entry hall at the parlor level. These snapshots show the early stages of installation.
CWB’ers Brendan, Janelle, Jesse and Brian Outside the Brooklyn Navy Yard Building 92 Gala Celebration.
Here is a sneak peak at some projects currently under construction:
Atlantic Theater on 20th Street in Manhattan
Cumberland Packing Offices [makers of Sweet'N Low]
photographs by Rachael Stollar of CWB Architects
Every year our holiday card generates a frenzy of brainstorming and allows us to design something that shares our fun side with our friends and family outside the office. This year’s card grew from a passing suggestion at the end of the work day: “What about a box of chocolates?” One of our fellow office occupants, artist/writer Rebecca Bazell, helped bring this idea to life and we were psyched with the results!
The “box” design was based on the classic Whitman’s Sampler chocolate box.
It’s been a busy year so far here at CWB Architects with the start of many new projects over the summer and official name changing upgrades. The whole office took a break to enjoy the newly complete, Jane’s Carousel down at Brooklyn Bridge Park and have their portraits taken for the new firm website.
Doubling as the firm photographer, Rachael Stollar labored over getting just the right shots to represent our awesome team!
Part of enjoying the waterfront is catching a glimpse of the stunning maritime activity on the East River.
