In Brooklyn, ABA reimagined a historic Greenpoint Brooklyn Townhouse for a British family, merging New York and London sensibilities to create a home that is open, resilient, and deeply connected to nature. Named Stick House, Brick Garden, the project draws from Greenpoint’s vernacular—wood cladding, masonry stoops, double-hung windows, and flower boxes—while reconfiguring these familiar elements to respond to contemporary life and the realities of coastal flooding.
At street level, the brick base of the wood-frame rowhouse peels away to form a low-walled garden aligned with neighboring areaways. Terraced brickwork recalls the spirit of the stoop, shaping a small social landscape at the sidewalk’s edge. Integrated planters and benches define spaces for conversation, play, and growing vegetables. The brick paving continues into the entry, descends to the lower level, and extends out to a rear terrace that opens into a lush, English-style garden. The project stands as a case study for flood-resistant residential architecture, utilizing resilient materials and calibrated detailing—such as raised electrical systems and integrated drainage—to prepare for future storm surges without sacrificing domestic warmth.
Inside, the layout supports evolving family life through spaces for gathering and retreat. The main level functions as a single, continuous room that runs front to back, centering daily life in a bright, communal zone. Below, a second open space connects to the garden and is designed for listening to music and relaxing.
The façade, defined by ten-foot-tall double-hung windows, creates a rhythmic grid of cedar panels and battens that carries into the interior trim. Natural light filters through a glass-paneled ceiling over the stair hall, illuminated at night by concealed LEDs that mimic daylight. Standard 2x lumber, used throughout for framing and detailing, establishes a sense of economy and craft.
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