When we retrofitted an Upper West Side townhouse to become Manhattan’s first Certified Passive House, we immediately fell in love with the project – and now, it is on the market.
The design of this house is exciting in many ways. Beyond being Manhattan’s first Certified Passive House, it is also LEED Platinum, and it is in a NYC Landmark District. Our first step in renovating the house was restoring the Renaissance revival front façade, designed by Thom & Wilson in 1889, to its original state. To do this, we brought back the ornamental details and stoop entry that were removed in the 1940s.
We added a rooftop, rear addition, and multiple architectural details to bring the entire house to life. Some of these details include archways, a sculptural interior staircase, and larger doors to create a more open floor plan. We also added larger, triple-paned windows for more natural light and efficient and cost-effective mechanical systems – including solar panels to power the entire house. The five-story townhouse has many amenities, including a finished cellar, wine room, billiards room, playroom, a yoga studio, an entertainment room, and exterior terraces.
Check out the listing here.
Realtors: Richard Pretsfelder and Thomas Wexler of Leslie J. Garfield
General Contractor: Robert Taffera, Inc.
Consultants: Project Plant LLC, Zola Windows, Sound Sight Technologies, Steven Winter Associates, Inc., Rosini Engineering, D’Huy Engineering
Interior Design: BIA Interiors LLC
Photography: Peter Peirce, Inc.
Details:
- Project size: 8068 ft2
- Renovation date: 2014
- Stories: 5