This New York Townhouse renovation is a lesson in contemporary minimalism
TenBerke’s carefully considered New York townhouse is the reimagining of a century-old Manhattan structure that reframes vertical living
Nothing says New York like the rows of handsome townhouses that line the streets of Manhattan – homes that have shown resilience in the face of urban transformations over centuries, adapting to their inhabitants’ evolving needs and the world’s shifting trends.
This Greenwich townhouse is a great example. Originally built in 1846, it has seen generations of ownership and modifications. It is now home to a family of four, who bought the property 174 years after its creation. Entering a new chapter in its long history, the residence recently underwent its latest reincarnation following a makeover by New York firm TenBerke.
Step inside this New York Townhouse by TenBerke
The studio was founded in 1982 by architect Deborah Berke, also the dean of the Yale School of Architecture – the first woman to hold this position. Her eponymous studio, relaunched as TenBerke in 2023, is now headed by an executive board, a move that reflects its ethos of collaboration and diversity. The practice is equally known for its often minimalist architectural flair – as seen in projects such as the interiors for 432 Park Avenue – and the sensitive reimagination and preservation of historic fabric. These two strands of thinking merge in this mature piece of architecture, completed last year and spanning building and interior works.
TenBerke senior principal Marc Leff worked on the scheme with principal Kiki Dennis, who led the interior design. Leff explains the project’s beginnings: ‘The clients were longtime friends of the firm who had lived abroad for many years. Now in New York, they wanted a family home that would complement and reflect the way they live. We designed spaces for the four of them to be together and with friends, with a vibe that’s serene and warm. They’ve lived all over the world; our design for them leans into the essential nature of New York townhouse living – vertical living with precious connections to the outdoors.’
Instead of completely gutting its interior, the team injected the property (whose exterior is protected by a landmark status) with a series of precise edits and careful additions. Consulting with their clients, the architects concluded that the existing spaces felt comfortable and well-proportioned, so dramatic alterations weren’t required. The few major moves implemented included the internal reworking of a handful of key spaces, such as the garden-facing kitchen on the lower level. The exterior was fully preserved and lovingly restored.
‘At any scale, our work focuses on two things: a sense of place and a strong sensitivity to human experience,’ Leff continues. ‘First, our designs are an intuitive and intelligent response to their locale, to their place. Second, we closely consider the human experience: how does it feel to enter a space, what is your eye drawn to, how do you feel connected to the outdoors, what pulls you into the moment?’
Focusing on the experiential in an ‘intimate and pronounced’ way was central to the practice’s approach, all the while ‘revelling’ in crafting the details that make the house a home. ‘We consider the joints between materials, the seams, the stitching, the placement of art and objects,’ says Dennis. ‘These are details that may not be noticed at first, but become familiar over time. They add depth and soul to the spaces.’
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
The architects’ passion for spatial quality on all levels, matched by their clients’ respect for craftsmanship, meant a number of makers were engaged in various aspects of the design. The Brooklyn-based Withers Studio and woodworker Palo Samko created custom pieces throughout, while the entire team coordinated closely with John Hummel & Associates, who oversaw the renovation.
The project expresses TenBerke’s architectural ethos, but ultimately, for the team, it’s all about individual personality. ‘We compose our spaces with an artful order that can hold the lives of the people who inhabit them, and can grow and change with them,’ says Dennis. ‘Here too, we designed a home that reflects its inhabitants, with details that both underscore the history of the house and its place in the city, but [a home that] remains simply pared down to grow and change as will the lives of those within.’
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
Alaïa’s secret new London café and bookstore is inspired by the art of hosting
Housed on the third floor of Alaïa’s London flagship, the intimate space – inspired by Azzedine Alaïa’s famed hospitality – includes a Violet Cakes bakery and a bookstore by Claire de Rouen
By Jack Moss Published
-
Is it really possible to stage a Shakespeare play inside the game Grand Theft Auto?
Grand Theft Hamlet, a documentary debut written and directed by Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane, is about two out-of-work actors attempting to mount a full production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, inside the violent world of Grand Theft Auto, shot entirely in game
By Billie Walker Published
-
Arlo NoMad hotel makes the American diner officially cool again
The NoMad Diner NYC’s interiors and menu offer an elevated take on an American classic
By Dan Howarth Published
-
We walk through Luther George Park and its new undulating pavilion
Luther George Park by Trahan Architects and landscape firm SMM Architects opens to the public, showcasing a striking new pavilion installation – take a first look
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A vibrant new waterfront park opens in San Francisco
A waterfront park by leading studio Scape at China Basin provides dynamic public spaces and coastal resilience for San Francisco's new district of Mission Rock
By Léa Teuscher Published
-
Tekαkαpimək Contact Station: a building ‘as inspiring as the endless forest and waterways of the land’
The new Tekαkαpimək Contact Station by Saunders Architecture with Reed Hilderbrand and Alisberg Parker Architects, opens at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in the USA
By Beth Broome Published
-
Entelechy II: architect John Portman's majestic beach home hits the market
Entelechy II, architect John Portman's beach residence in Georgia, USA, goes on the market; roll up, roll up for a home that is as grand as it is playful
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
First look: Honolulu's Victoria Place blends cosmopolitan living with Hawaii life and nature
Victoria Place is a new residential tower at Honolulu's Ward Village; take a first look at its interiors
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A look inside the home of George Homsey, one of the fathers of pioneering California modernist community Sea Ranch
George Homsey's home opens for the first time since his death, in 2019; see where the architect behind some of the designs for Sea Ranch, the pioneering California modernist community, lived
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Step inside a Brooklyn Brownstone that bridges old and new
'Brooklyn Brownstone' has been refreshed by Jon Powell Architects (JPA) and the result is a contemporary design rooted in modern elegance
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
The new Frederic Church Center at Olana complements its leafy Upstate New York site
Tour the Frederic Church Center for Art and Landscape, now open at Olana, a historic site in Upstate New York, courtesy of architecture studio ARO
By Ellie Stathaki Published