October 8, 2023
We had the distinct pleasure of renovating one of the townhouses on this iconic block in Tribeca. If you’ve ever walked on Harrison Street near the waterfront downtown, you will notice a stretch of preserved 1820s Federal Style townhouses in the midst of all those skyscrapers. The one we renovated was originally located on this site , but the others next to it were actually placed on a truck and relocated a few blocks to the current location, creating the largest remaining collection of preserved Federal Style townhouses in the entire city.
The Federal Style was the predominant townhouse dwelling type in the early days of New York, symbolizing a new kind of architecture for a new nation. Based on Georgian architecture (but without the “King George” of course..) these houses typically feature elements of classical architecture (proportions, cornices, pediments, and facade decorations) but are distinctly less decorative than the subsequent styles of brownstone architecture (Greek Revival, Italianate, and Neo-Grec) that followed during the height of the brownstone building boom.
Read more about the full renovation project here to find out how we introduced a new, contemporary interior for the owners that resonates with the rich character and history of the space.
Photos by Alexander Severin Architectural Photography