Fort Greene Passive House

This four-story rowhouse, built in the early 1900s, is a classic slice of Brooklyn complete with the layers of history you’d expect from a home that’s seen over a century of change. The original stoop, once a defining feature of brownstone facades, was removed mid-century in a nod to modern, simple tastes. Inside, traces of its former charm remain including ornamental plasterwork, ceiling moldings, and carved niches that speak to a time when decorative detail was a marker of middle- and upper-class ambition.

Designed for a family that loves to gather as a family and host, the layout is reimagined as three zones: larger, open areas for entertaining, private family spaces, and semi-private lower level. The 20-by-80 lot and stacked floor plates follow a familiar Brooklyn construction and, as such, the original brick party walls offer little in the way of acoustic separation. A large functional goal for this project is to use Passive House construction, like continuous exterior insulation and triple glazed windows to allow for a livable, breathable modern townhome.

Our design reestablishes a gracious, celebrated point of entry by connecting the garden and parlor levels in a way that feels natural and ceremonial. Looking ahead, the plan accommodates evolving needs: an accessible guest bedroom on the garden level for aging parents, and adaptable bedrooms for a growing child.

Brooklyn, NY

Anticipated Completion in 2027

 

New “Stoop”

 

An existing stoop, removed sometime in the mid-1900s, created a uninviting "back door” feel to the main entrance of the townhome. By selectively cutting back the Parlor floor plate, we established a vertical connection between the Garden and Parlor levels and reintroduced the spatial presence of the historic stoop. This intervention restores a sense of ceremony and clarity to the home's entry sequence.

 

Inviting Parlor Floor

 

The original stair, no longer code-compliant, offered a chance to reframe the entry sequence. Aligned with the new stoop and semi-private Garden level, the redesigned stair establishes a clear hierarchy guiding visitors directly upward to the Kitchen and Living areas and reinforcing a purposeful sense of arrival.

 

Sleeping Floors

A series of flexible spaces including nooks, playrooms, a home office, a main bedroom suite, and two additional bedrooms support the evolving needs of a growing family. A rich material palette, paired with selective pops of color, brings a sense of warmth and playfulness to the design.

 

Pre-Renovation:

The townhouse was organized into a series of repeated floor layouts, with each level subdivided in a similar manner to accommodate the original intended program.

 

Post-Renovation:

The new layout provides insulated walls for acoustic separation, a more intentional garden level with a gym and office, an expanded parlor floor for living and dining, and a proper main suite with a generous bath, ample closet space, and a seating nook.

All renderings by Studio Modh Architecture