Chelsea Townhouse, Selldorf Architects

Chelsea Townhouse

New York, NY

This four-story townhouse in the Chelsea Historic District received a full renovation including a new rear façade and extension.

An existing 12 foot deep, one-story addition in the rear garden was removed and replaced by a new extension which encompasses all of the floors.  Full height casement windows maximize the south facing light while preserving the intimate scale of the house. New balconies were added at each floor creating a deeper connection between the house and the garden.

The interior is organized around a dramatic sculptural sky-lit staircase.  Its sinuous curvature links the floors together and creates a counterpoint to the rectilinearity of the basic townhouse footprint.  A limited palette of finish materials including white oak flooring, Venetian plaster walls, and a blackened metal stair rail that matches the hearths of the home’s two fireplaces contribute to a general sense of calm and focus.

(Photography credits: Todd Eberle)