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P R O F I L E | O F P O S S I B L E
"We're not classicists, but we were trying
to find an elegant way to create some-
thing new while preserving the feeling of
what was previously there," says Appel.
The material palette — which includes
red brick, reclaimed heart pine, terra-
cotta, plaster and limestone — was
chosen in this spirit.
"Normally, it's the front of the building that
is the most expressive because that is
what everyone sees," says the architect.
"In this case, the red-brick front facade's
expression is calmness and continuity
with the existing architecture and street-
scapes. By the time you reach the rear
terraces of the building with the custom
all-matte white glazed terracotta façade,
you realize you are in a very unique
space. This really captures the identity
of Williamsburg in a way."
Each home is both private and quietly
isolated from the street while featuring
a sense of openness and continuity
between interior and exterior. Plenty
of natural daylight makes its way into
dramatic double-height spaces adorned
with 18-foot curtains. Seamless glass and
flush transitions reinforce the inside-out-
side connection.
"We wanted to reflect the sense of scale,"
says Appel, who designed the building
following sustainable principles that
align with New York City's Zone Green
initiative. Some of the more sustain-
able choices include the installation of
high-performance triple glazed windows
and efficient and healthier heating and
cooling systems, as well as the use of
reclaimed heart pine for the floors, mill-
work and ceilings.
"The materials, colors and atmosphere
were always driven by choices that
felt at home in Brooklyn," the architect
explains. "We wanted the experience of
the building to be a journey from the old
to the new."
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