Clinton Hill Courtyard House
The existing historic Carriage House fills the lot, making a large space 24’ x 76’ with very limited access to light and air. To transform this into an inspiring residence, three strategic openings are made to allow light and air to permeate the spaces of daily living.The concept design leaves intact all historical exterior elevations and roof profiles, maintaining the Landmarks integrity of the structure, while at the same time transforming the living spaces into light-filled open rooms fitting to the daily lifestyle of a young family in the 21st Century.
The original historic Carriage House filled the 24’ x 76’ lot floor with very little light and air. Three Light Volumes are subtracted from the structure to transform it into an inspiring residence, opening up all the spaces of daily living to light and nature.
A new Sky Volume cuts through the second floor illuminating the adjacent Library and the loft-like Living Room below. Two squares of skylight project the sun’s path across the white-stained plywood surfaces of the cubic volume, amplifying seasonal and diurnal variation. The suspended volume branches to give light to the master bedroom, and extends down into the Living Room along the stair, hanging the steps. The stair wall is perforated with 1”holes, perpendicular at eye height and at radiating angles up and down for shifting views.
A Light Garden is carved into the one-story wing, bringing light and nature into the core of the house. The Living Room, Kitchen, and Girls’ Bedroom are centered around the Garden, joined through the mahogany-framed sliding glass walls. The garden opens up to the Roof Terrace above connecting all social spaces of the house. A Skylight/Table in the roof terrace brings light into the rear bedroom.
The boundaries between interior and exterior are porous in this hybrid loft/courtyard/rowhouse; the living spaces focus inward to the Light Volumes, which in turn open out to garden and sky.
