This renovated four story brick townhouse has been designed by Turett Collaborative Architects, located on East 61st Street in the Upper East Side of New York. In the redesign of this 100 year old 4,500 square foot townhouse, the interior and back walls were removed and reconstructed; now, a large airy skylight above the staircase in the midsection of the house floods every room with natural light.

Expanding livable space appealing to modern aesthetics is a primary design challenge in townhouse renovation. In our renovation of this 61st street townhouse, the interior and rear walls were removed and reconstructed.  With floor-to-ceiling windows and skylight, natural light now floods every room.

The beauty of this townhouse is in the simplicity of its design, and in the use of natural materials to enhance it. Stone, steel, travertine and fiber-cement panels are used extensively on the exterior, while frosted glass, white stained maple, and polished steel adorn the new interior. The clear spatial configuration, innovative glass addition, use of natural materials and attention to neighborhood integrity, work in harmony to redefine a modern townhouse.

The townhouse garnered national attention when it was used as the on-camera contestants’ residence for Bravo’s “Make Me a Supermodel.”

Townhouse Design Tip

Townhouses are often defined by a narrow width with multiple floors. Stair design demands design creativity and innovation to make optimal use of space and to amplify a sense of opens.  Consider waterfall or “sawtooth” oak treads and risers which cantilever over the painted stair stringer enhancing the perceived thinness of the stair section.  Glass walls define the stair circulation zone at the lower two public floors,  transitioning to a  custom designed steel guardrail.

Photos: Courtesy of Turett Collaborative Architects