462 ST MARKS AVENUE

What the client asked for

Surrounded by prewar buildings on a cozy street corner in Prospect Heights, 462 St Mark’s Avenue is the picture of Brooklyn charm. In creating a residential development in the space, the client wanted to complement the neighborhood. While the building would offer many modern amenities, they noted it shouldn’t stick out.

The challenges we faced

The building that both we and the client had in mind would contain numerous amenities not available in prewar buildings. For one, we wanted to create a seamless integration between indoor and outdoor spaces. We envisioned spacious units with great views and clear access to fresh air and light. The challenge was finding out how to accomplish this while blending this into the context.

How we overcame the challenges

From the outside, this building is elegant and understated. By using masonry that reflected the color and texture of surrounding buildings, we could create a facade that was unmistakably modern yet totally at home in its Brooklyn context.

The cantilevered landscaped entrance canopy is the most dramatic architectural statement on the facade. The canopy wraps around the corner and segments the amenitized first floor from the residences upstairs.

Concrete planters are also built into balconies, encouraging residents to take up gardening and embrace nature this way. This also gives tenants the opportunity to express themselves by adding a dash of variety to the facade of the building, imbuing the already charming block with even more individual character.

Finally, the building was fitted with windows large enough to give each apartment a sense of spatial continuity with the outdoors. We wanted tenants to take advantage of the fact that they live on such a beautiful block.