Charles Street Townhouse

Located on a tree-lined block in New York City’s West Village, this four-story townhouse renovation reconsiders a 19th-century rowhouse within the Greenwich Village Historic District as a private family residence shaped by the interplay between historic fabric and contemporary intervention. Originally constructed in 1867 by Bartlett Smith as part of a series of French Second Empire–style rowhouses, the building retains a brownstone façade and painted wood cornice that have remained largely intact, while the interior had been altered through a series of prior renovations that diminished its original character.

The Turett Collaborative (TTC) approached the project as a full townhouse renovation focused on restoring significant historic elements while introducing a contemporary architectural framework to support modern living. Surviving details on the parlor level, including base and crown moldings, ceiling medallions, and fireplace mantels, were preserved and became key reference points for the design. Working closely with the clients, TTC developed a strategy that balanced preservation with reconfiguration, establishing a functional layout and updated amenities within the constraints of the historic structure.

An architectural language was developed to clarify the relationship between old and new. Original moldings are allowed to pass through newly inserted glass vestibules at the garden and parlor levels, while recessed metal reveals trace the perimeter of preserved fireplace mantels, marking points of transition. Contemporary elements are introduced with precision. A modern chandelier is set against a restored ceiling medallion, and door jambs lined in non-directional stainless steel articulate openings without competing with the texture of the original finishes. Throughout the townhouse, these interventions establish a consistent dialogue between retained historic fabric and newly introduced elements.

The result is a carefully calibrated West Village townhouse residence that maintains the integrity of its historic character while accommodating the spatial and functional requirements of contemporary family life.