This was a gut renovation of a three-story row house in dilapidated condition in Williamsburg.

Its location afforded spectacular views of the East River, midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building, but much of the interior was "landlocked" without exposure to any natural light.

Our scheme had a single goal: increase the level of natural light filtering into the home.

The bulkhead and roof deck became an opportunity to capture light, while providing an outdoor "room" for gathering and reclining.

A central stair tower consisting of glass, iron, and wood bounces the light down into the lower floors.

A glass panel was embedded in the wall of the master bath to further reflect and refract light throughout.

The floorplan was inverted to feature bedrooms and an office on the first and second floors, and communal rooms for cooking, dining, and living on the airy third floor, just below the roof deck.