In 2007, Standard Architects completed a townhouse for artist Tara Donovan and Robbie Crawford, who at the time worked at the firm as a designer. In this Williamsburg, Brooklyn, project, live and work functions occupied discrete realms: the building's ground floor incorporated carport and studio spaces, while its upper two floors were reachable by separate entry. When Donovan's art studio outgrew the allotted space, in 2015 Crawford's newly launched practice transformed the ground floor into a collective family space that links to the upstairs.
Previously the art studio had been accessed solely from the carport, so we quickly identified a connecting interior stair as the linchpin in this scheme. Making room for the new stair required removing a second-floor home office, and reassigning that use to an expansive landing on the stairs. Because the stair assumed a unique topography, we extended that idea to the ground-floor interior, defining zones of use in section. There are three levels for living, dining, and work functions, while a fourth plinth that includes book shelving and a Murphy bed can serve purposes ranging from library and guest room to a stage for events.
Donovan and Crawford envisioned the reclaimed interior as a counterpoint to the daylight-flooded upstairs—cozily dark, with a sense of glamour that also suited entertaining. Utility and storage spaces concealed by plain-sawn walnut millwork inject sophistication and opulence into the space. The wider material and color palette are inspired by a Keith Tyson painting installed outside the third-floor dining room. Floors are variations on black, marbleized wallpaper and flooring patterns evoke the painting’s swirling forms, and an overarching respect for the organic world is reflected in low-light plants, crystals, and other finishing touches.