Design AIDD, a New York-based architectural firm, is engineering the transformation of a three-story, 3,050 s/f townhouse at 368 East 69th Street into a five-story, 6,750 s/f mixed-use building.
368 East 69th Street.
The Design AIDD team has amalgamated a traditional brownstone shell with a modern-day glass façade to encompass more than 3,700 s/f of available space.
Upon completion, the modernized, single family residence with a private, ground floor commercial office, will serve as an example of traditional and modern architectural design.
Design AIDD leveraged current zoning laws to maximize the six-foot expanse between the existing brownstone façade and the property line. Next, they devised a plan to create a seamless structure by building up the exposed brick wall. Once the walls were finished, a 54-foot high glass and steel façade was erected to expand the home’s dimensions.
“This was a fun project,” said Ian Pinto, a co-founding principal of the firm. “The team enjoyed turning an already beautiful home into a true work of art. We were able to honor the original brownstone by restoring the front façade and designing a new skin to reveal the home’s historic details.”
The four-bedroom, five bath home features a five-story cascading grand staircase, Brazilian teak wood floors, 10-foot high ceilings, five fireplaces, four terraces, and marble and stone baths. The open kitchen and dining room has a private terrace with a retractable glass roof. The bedrooms boast operable skylights.
Additional highlights include a private elevator, a libray and a curved balcony overlooking a lower level, double height formal living room.
“The pieces really fell into place on this project, from the zoning allowances and the team’s collective design to the actual build-out,” says David Kirschenbaum, another co-founding principal of the firm. We couldn’t be more pleased with the final product.”
The Upper Eastside residence, owned by John Frezza, president of Brooklyn-based Strategic Construction Corporation, is in the final stages of completion.
