"Never take the initial call at face value. The project often grows into something entirely different. That's what happened with this turn-of-the-20th-century brownstone, which had such serious structural issues it needed a down-to-the-shell gut. A pair of longtime homeowners who'd been living on the two lower floors of their building called on Segulja and Margot Otten, his partner in Brooklyn- and Hoboken-based OSSO Architecture, to expand their living space when the birth of twins grew their family from three members to five."
"Turns out the house had been built on a 25-foot-deep pit of coal ash and was sinking significantly from front to back, requiring substantial structural intervention. Step one was driving 32 helical piles, or metal columns, forty feet into the ground beneath existing foundation walls to reach a solid base. Then interior demolition proceeded until only the front facade and party walls were left standing."
"OSSO Architecture reimagined the interior with an emphasis on wood, mostly oak, per the clients' request. The floors are oak, with radiant heating beneath. The all-new central staircase is wood, with hand-carved oak handrails. Windows and sills are wood as well."
A turn-of-the-20th-century brownstone underwent extensive renovation after homeowners sought to expand their living space following the birth of twins. Initial assessment revealed serious structural problems: the building had settled significantly on a 25-foot-deep pit of coal ash, causing floors to slope dramatically. Architects discovered the foundation required stabilization using 32 helical piles driven 40 feet deep to reach solid ground. The project evolved from a simple expansion into a complete interior gut renovation, preserving only the front facade and party walls. The redesigned interior emphasizes oak wood throughout, including flooring with radiant heating, a new central staircase with hand-carved handrails, and wooden windows and sills.
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