Monroe Street House is a minimal residence located in Brooklyn, New York, designed by TBo. The project carefully marries the original Federal-style brick home with a sunlit extension that overlooks a rejuvenated backyard garden. While the front rooms of the home maintain their historic proportions and function, the rear opens up to more expansive and communal spaces. The design tackles the challenge of a narrow lot sandwiched between deep adjacent structures, focusing on optimizing natural light— a crucial request from the clients. The rear extension is built with a poured-in-place concrete frame within a restrained 200-square-foot area, balancing the need for more space with the integrity of the original structure.

The ground floor is devoted to a painting studio that leads to a sunken garden. The parlor level accommodates a kitchen bay and outdoor dining deck, while the top floor hosts an L-shaped primary bedroom with an additional area for musical activities, offering a view of the treetops. The upper floors are occupied by the clients and their young children, while the grandparents live on the ground floor. The grandparents’ space includes a light-soaked studio, designed to serve as both an art studio and a play area for the grandchildren. A brick arcade, a relic from the original structure, delineates the transition between the old and newly built spaces.

The ground-level studio is lowered to augment the ceiling height and establish a fluid connection with the garden. The textured concrete floor inside mirrors the gravel texture of the garden patio outside, unifying the two spaces. Material choices for the house are intentionally minimal and natural, designed to age gracefully. The untreated concrete frame and breathable lime-plastered walls stand in contrast to the existing brick structure. The dining area features Doug fir ceiling beams that echo the home’s concrete structural elements.