Wednesday, March 01, 2017

Architecture Wednesday: Firehouse Conversion

The building was originally erected in the 19th century as a two-story firehouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

The sleeping quarters were on the 2nd floor while the horses and buggies were housed on the ground floor; when fire trucks replaced the buggies, the structure of the ground floor was upgraded.

The firehouse closed in the 1970s and became a sculptor’s studio until the current owner, a photographer, purchased it.

It was mostly dilapidated by then; the roof was falling apart and there were no fireman poles left. The project included the conversion of the ground floor into a photo studio and gallery space, and the second floor into living spaces for the owner, bedrooms for his daughters; a third story penthouse was added which includes the master suite, a lounge and a rooftop garden.

One of the main objectives of the project was to achieve a balance of privacy and natural light, which was accomplished by the addition of a light well that penetrates the house from the new third floor roof down to the center of the second floor, washing the kitchen in daylight.

A bridge passes through this sky lit space and connects the lounge to the master bedroom suite, around which a walled-in rooftop wraps around the corner of the penthouse to allow for rooftop strolls.

I do wish that some of the old charm of the firehouse could have been maintained ... or, at the very least, it came with an on-site fireman.

TBDDesignStudio

6 comments:

  1. Wow! That is quite the change. Glad it got a second chance.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous6:37 PM

    This is surprisingly like a London home. When can I move in. Don't get me started on the bath...
    JP

    ReplyDelete
  3. Strangely unlike a firehouse.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Feels a bit cold , surprisingly I love this space, especially the living room with the fireplace and book cases. But your right Bob. I'd feel much more secure if a firemen or two came with the joint.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have always loved the idea of living in a converted fire house or church... Maybe a cathedral?

    ReplyDelete
  6. @Mitchell
    I'd love to live in a converted church!

    ReplyDelete

Say anything, but keep it civil .......