HOLLY WILLIAMS BRITTAIn ARCHITECt
NEW CANAAN | HUDSON VALLEy | nyc
Location: 120th Street & Lenox Avenue
Size: 6,600 SF (gross including cellar)
Setup: 3 family
Configuration: 3 duplex apartments
Construction Scope: Gut renovation, new utility connections, new systems, new roof and outdoor spaces
Our Project Scope: Buyer’s Broker/Acquisition, Development/Feasibility, Budget Analysis, Interior Design, Architectural Drawings, DOB Expediting, LPC & NY-SHPO Applications, Construction Management, Seller’s Broker, Photography, Project Marketing
Noteworthy: Sale of property in 2017 broke all-time record for highest priced multifamily (1-4) in all Harlem neighborhoods.
Project Story: Like many city dwellers, when Holly and Bruce Brittain decided to start a family, they considered buying a house in the suburbs. However, they longed to stay in their convivial Harlem neighborhood conveniently located to parks, restaurants and their offices. Holly, not only an architect but also a real estate broker and developer, identified a foreclosed building, the only remaining vacant townhouse shell within the Mount Morris Park Historic District. She proposed the project to several clients but gut renovating 5 stories plus a cellar (5500+ SF) in a shaky economy seemed too daunting. Bruce, who has a finance background, ran a back of the envelope and recognized the building's income potential. The Brittains realized an opportunity - they could self-fund a larger home for themselves by incorporating two comparable sized rental apartments. In order to achieve both top quality and affordability, the couple assumed the combined roles of architect, developer and construction manager. With soaring ceilings and full height windows, the three duplex apartments are stunningly bright and airy and combine the gracious proportions of a historic townhouse with contemporary loft-like open floor plans. The efficient configurations optimize natural light and fresh air with large windows and continuous site lines to the outdoor living spaces. Operating costs were minimized by employing hydronic radiant floor heating, spray foam insulation and durable materials. The units are separately metered to provide flexibility for a future condo conversion.
Location: 139th Street & 7th Avenue
Size: 5,040 SF (gross including finished cellar)
Setup: single family house
Configuration: 4 story + cellar + 2-car garage
Construction Scope: Gut renovation, new systems, new roof, re-built garage, new elevator, new windows, restoration work
Our Project Scope: Architecture, DOB Expediting, LPC Application
Noteworthy: The original Italian Renaissance style house, built in 1891, was designed as part of a series by McKim, Mead and White. The 32 houses are still intact and, combined with 3 other distinct rows of houses, comprise the St Nicholas Historic District.
Project Story:
Location: 153rd Street & St Nicholas Avenue
Size: 5,020 SF (including finished cellar)
Setup: 2 family
Configuration: 2 duplex apartments
Construction Scope: Gut renovation, new systems, restoration of original details, relocated and expanded kitchen
Our Project Scope: Buyer’s Broker/Rep., Budget/Scope Analysis, Architectural Design, LPC & NY-SHPO applications
Noteworthy: The Queen Anne style rowhouse, part of the Sugar Hill Historic District, was designed by Henri Fouchaux and built in 1887. In the early 1900s, the building was used as a school and a substantial 2-story rear extension was added. In 1957, the building was converted to a private membership club called the “Club Craftsmen of Tyre” and remained as such until 1987.
Project Story:
Location: New Canaan, Fairfield County, CT
Size: 4,090 SF (existing)
6,830 SF (gross, including garage)
Setup: single family house
Configuration: 2 story Colonial
Noteworthy: Original portion of house was built in 1760 and is listed as a “Visitation House”. The accessory English bank barn is listed on the CT Trust for Historic Preservation website and registry, “Historic Barns of CT”.
Construction Scope: Remodel Baths, Reconfigure Kitchen, new roof, Circulation tweaks. New 2-story addition includes garage, mud room, family room, 2 guest suites, play room/gym.
Our Project Scope: Architecture, Interior Design, Construction Management
Project Story:
Location: 118th Street & Morningside Avenue
Size: 1,230 SF
Setup: condo
Configuration: garden duplex apartment
Construction Scope: Gut renovation, new electric, expanded kitchen, opened up floor plan, built-in storage, new stair railing, remodeled baths
Our Project Scope: Architecture, DOB Expediting
Project Story:
Location: Scarsdale, Westchester County, NY
Size: 3,030 SF (excluding cellar)
Setup: 1 family
Configuration: 5 split levels
Construction Scope: Gut renovation, new systems, new roof, new windows, relocated and expanded kitchen, remodeled baths, circulation tweaks
Our Project Scope: Architecture
Noteworthy: Builders who looked at the house prior to renovation considered it a tear down.
Project Story:
Scandinavian Aesthetic
Clean Lines
Soft Textures
Thoughtful storage solutions
A place for everything
Intricately Detailed
Natural Materials
Pops of Color
Custom Lighting
Innovative Architectural Finishes
Capturing extra square feet by finishing roof decks and excavating cellars
Adding terraces and balconies
Durable low maintenance pedestal deck systems
Outdoor lighting and cooking setups
Encouraging indoor/outdoor living with broad expanses of glass, multi-fold and stacking glass door systems
Crisp, Clean and Bright
Natural Stone
Warm Wood Highlights
Built-in Storage
Location: Red Hook, Dutchess County, NY
Size: 4,300 SF (gross)
Configuration: 2 floors English bank barn
Construction Scope: Re-built original barn, salvaged timbers, new foundation, new utility connections, new systems, new windows, new roof, commercial kitchen, cider production
Our Project Scope: Development/Feasibility, Budget Analysis, Architectural Concepts, Interior Design, NY-SHPO Application
Project Story: The original barn at this site was constructed in the 1800s. It was re-built in 1910 after a fire partially destroyed it.
Location: Red Hook, Dutchess County, NY
Size: 4,800 SF (gross)
Configuration: 2 floors bank barn
Construction Scope: New construction 40’ x 60’ barn
Our Project Scope: Development/Feasibility, Budget Analysis, Architectural Concepts, Interior Design
Noteworthy: The apartment is intended to function as a Farm Stay prototype.
Project Story: While developing a master plan for Rose Hill Farm, we identified lack of storage as a critical issue to resolve. Tractors, supplies, implements and equipment were strewn about the site and particularly around the Farmstand Complex, a cluster of barns comprising the most public portion of the farm. Site constraints, including topography and a conservation easement, greatly limiting feasible building locations.
The 40’ x 60’ footprint is sufficient for concealing tractors and implements on the lower level. A loft-like 2-bedroom apartment, with a deck overlooking a large pond, comprises half of the upper level. The other half houses a farm office and garage, a staff break room and public restrooms.
The building is intentionally unassuming and low slung so as not to compete with the flanking Cider Mill (an antique re-build) or the surrounding views of the Catskill Mountains. The simple material palette - red painted wood siding, standing seam aluminum roof, and touches of field stone - is contextual, both to the existing structures on the site and to the surrounding farm region.
Location: Red Hook, Dutchess County, NY
Size: 114 acre Farm
Construction Scope: Road improvements, re-grading, expanded parking areas, several new barns and gardens, pond cleanup, landscaping.
Our Project Scope: Development/Feasibility, Budget Analysis, Site and Landscape Design
Noteworthy:
Project Story: Coming Soon!