Todt Hill Home Addition and Renovation

Originally built in 1958 along a steep slope of Staten Island’s Todt Hill, this house was the client’s beloved childhood home, but it was proving too small for their own family of six (including four young children). A sizable expansion and considered renovation allows the residence to not only grow along with this young family, but to also support their lifestyles in the decades to come.

The primary design gesture is a contemporary, 2,000-sf addition that straddles the existing building to create a new second floor. Both spaces are integrated stylistically and spatially through a holistic approach to architecture and interiors. The elemental, vernacular-inspired structure engages Passive House principles of green design in its use of solar panels, indoor/outdoor spaces, and efficient mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

The home’s circulation was rethought, with living spaces enlarged and moved to the new second floor. These comfortable, free-flowing interiors, including an open-plan kitchen with custom cabinetry, are oriented around natural light and vistas of New York Harbor. With added baths and bedrooms, as well as a new playroom, an elevator, and outdoor terraces, the redesigned home will provide spaces for people of all ages to connect with one another and with the natural surroundings.