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Cube | House

Brooklyn, United States

alette Architecture, a firm focused on the creation of built
environment that enhances the daily experience of our
Pcontemporary lives, is proud to unveil CUBE | HOUSE, located
in historic brownstone Brooklyn, New York. The late-1800s Italianate
townhouse needed rescue. After previous owners stripped away the
original details, partitions, and materials, the building's spirit had
become muddled. The design brief called for the revitlisation of the
house's original character, with contemporary connections to history
and nature.

“The architectural approach was twofold,” says Peter Miller, a partner
at Palette Architecture. “In addition to creating a threshold to the
historic qualities by carving a 17-foot square hole into the rear of
the home, we endeavoured to create new contemporary connections
through a 20-foot cube located in the rear yard.”

A precise incision
The removal of the rear wall exposes the contrasting qualities of the
parlour and garden levels. While the upper level retains much of the
building's original detailing, the lower floor does not. A thin metal
portal outlines the opening, drawing attention to the contrast. On
the lower level, the incision allows for a continuation of an open plan.
On the upper level, a gridded glass wall infills the portal and creates
a delicate veil to the more traditional character of the upper floors.
Taking cues from 19th-century Brooklyn building traditions, the
glass wall becomes a porous threshold between the old and new.
Street Façade
A Cube of connectivity
The cube addition is a minimally-adorned, double-height extension
Roof Terrace that stands in contrast to the upper floors. It is free of all mouldings
and partitions, a characteristic that extends throughout the garden
level. The narrow edging of the kitchen cabinetry, the elegantly thin
borders of the custom herringbone floor, and the thin lines of each
light fixture set the aesthetic of this floor. Ancillary programmes
such as the pantry, cellar stairs, cloakroom, and wine storage fill the
narrow space along the western edge of the kitchen.

“The form of the cube allows for a variety of outdoor spaces, and
the carefully crafted openings accentuate connections to nature,”
explains Miller. “For example, the upper face of the cube features a
large, asymmetrical skylight that provides a tangible connection to
the exterior environment, allowing residents to track the passage of
time and weather from the interior.”

The skylight also creates a visual link between the partially-sheltered
rooftop terrace above, and the people inside. The rear face of the
cube features four full-length doors and a gridded glass curtain wall
that faces onto a sunken brick court and manicured gardens beyond.
Nestled amongst the native grasses and shrubs, several hidden seating
areas were created, as well as a patio for entertaining.

Upper-level intricacies
In contrast to the lower floors, the upper levels are more partitioned
and intricately programmed. On the first floor, guests are welcomed
into an open, yet formal parlour. Large pocket doors open into a rear
library leading down into the cube below. Unique Italianate trims,

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