New Construction
Single Family Townhouse, 3,350SF

Willoughby Carriage house is a single family townhouse inserted at the rear yard of an existing historic townhouse, replacing a garage. The project was conceived as a contemporary resolution to the terminus of a historic townhouse block with the introduction of wall courtyard garden at the street wall. The project balances privacy and openness through a carefully sequenced spatial arrangement.

At its core, the 3 bedroom 2 bath house is organized around a private interior courtyard and a three story atrium that draw daylight deep into the plan, establishing visual and environmental connections between levels while maintaining a sense of retreat from the street. Exterior spaces are integral to daily living, extending the interior outward into a sheltered roof gardens, and reinforcing the project’s relationship to light, air, and seasonality.

The building envelope is designed for long term performance, pairing an energy efficient assembly with durable, natural materials. Clay brick serves as the primary exterior material, grounding the house in the material language of the Fort Greene Historic District while being deployed with contemporary precision. The result is a residence that feels both rooted and distinctly modern, an architecture shaped by light, material honesty, and spatial experience.

The project was designed in collaboration with Thom Mayne, reflecting a shared commitment to rigorous spatial thinking and a belief that residential architecture should elevate everyday life through clarity, performance, and meaningful connections between interior and exterior space.