103 Grand | Vincent Appel

Of Possible has completed design and permitting for 103 Grand Street, a three unit 7,300 sq. ft. multi-family building in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The building consists of two duplexes and a triplex currently under construction by Rise Development. The project is located two blocks from Domino Park and across the street from the new William Sheridan Playground and PS 084 in one of New York City’s most iconic neighborhoods. 

The design for 103 Grand Street marries iconic Williamsburg loft-style living with the desirability of outdoor space typically only found in garden level apartments. The rear of the building is terraced so that every unit contains multiple private outdoor spaces and each unit is designed with loft-like double height spaces up to 18 feet tall. Floor to ceiling glass allows extraordinary day light into the building and creates a rare connection between the interior and exterior spaces through the rear façade. Daylight, outdoor space, privacy to the street, and a strong inside-outside connection at the rear of the building define the design. 

The building has been designed with sustainable principles in mind that meet New York City’s Zone Green initiative for higher performance buildings. High performance triple glazed windows exceed the energy code which allows for more natural daylight while maintaining comfortable insulation values. As an all electric building with high efficiency heating and cooling systems healthier and more comfortable indoor air quality is achieved. Relcaimed heart pine is used for the floors, millwork, and ceilings which adds warmth to the atmosphere while reducing the building’s embodied carbon footprint. 

The design proposes a material pallet iconic to Brooklyn architecture. Brick, patinad metal, heart pine, plaster, and large format glass windows inspired by the large windows found on warehouses in area converted to lofts are the primary materials. Loft living inspired the double height spaces found in each unit. The new rear façade of the building is clad entirely in a custom fluted terracotta tile. The shape of the tile mimics the S-curve of the interior linen curtains and further connects the interior to the exterior. The materials have been detailed for ease of construction and to last generations. 

The result is a building where each home has unique interior and exterior spaces with no two-units being identical. 103 Grand Street feels familiar and new at the same time. Moving through the building from the street-facing brick facade, to the interior plaster and reclaimed heart pine double height spaces, to the cascading rear glass and terra-cotta terraces is a seamless transition from the old to the new. 

Lead design, Of Possible — 

Of Possible is a Brooklyn based design studio working across spheres of development, urbanism, industrial design, sculpture, and large-scale public art. Founded by Vincent Appel in 2008 in New York City, Of Possible pursues design as a marriage between the poetry of space and building science. Bespoke teams are assembled for each project ranging in scale from furniture design, to single family residences, to multi-family urban developments, cultural, institutional, hospitality, and master plans. Of Possible approaches each design by looking for an architecture that is as unique as the patron that has commissioned the project. 

Architect of Record — 

Thomas Barry, RA is the principal of OPerA Studio Architecture, the Architect of Record for the project. 

General contractor, Lawrence Rafalovich / Rise Development — 

Rise Development and Construction has over 140 years of combined technical expertise and knowledge across a wide range of property types from inception to completion. Rise is involved every step of the way from pre-construction planning, obtaining entitlements, budget development and execution, scheduling, contract procurement, to close-out. Using unique methods of extracting value while simultaneously providing the highest standards of quality are the hallmarks of Rise’s onstruction team’s process.

Landscape, Jeff Mendoza Gardens — 

As a formally trained artist, Jeff Mendoza presents thoughtful and sophisticated landscape designs that reflect the natural world, comprised of botanical forms and earthy palettes. He approaches the design of a garden as if it were a drawing or a painting, considering form, color, texture, scale and overall composition, each project intellectually planned as its own unique environment. As the value of green space in New York City is undeniable JMG works within the confines of weight allowances, climate variations and complex logistics to transform any space into a stunning garden and to provide beautiful solutions to the complexity of a hard urban landscape. Jeff Mendoza has lectured widely on garden design and has been published internationally in numerous publications including House and Garden, Horticulture and The Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society.

Brokerage, RoseAnne Degliuomini / Compass — 

Dedicated and Passionate about all things Real Estate, RoseAnne is a life long New Yorker and native Brooklyn resident who offers her clients over 15 years of combined experience and expertise in the development, marketing, sales and rentals of ground-up boutique condo developments, townhouses, and commercial creative spaces across the borough of Brooklyn. A specialist and lover of Brooklyn waterfront neighborhoods like Red Hook, Dumbo, and Williamsburg, RoseAnne’s clients and customers benefit from her extensive market knowledge of these areas, strong industry reputation, and commitment to her clients and customers alike.

Renderings, DarcStudio — 

DarcStudio is an award-winning architectural visualization studio focused on atmospheric narrative. DarcStudio is renowned for capturing the delicate light and warm of some of the mostly highly regarded architectural design in the world. Their imagery brings to life the subtle warmth, stillness, and texture otherwise invisible until after buildings have been built. 

Architect of Record:Thomas Barry

Landscape Design: Jeff Mendoza Gardens

General Contractor: Lawrence Rafalovich, Rise Development

Terra-cotta: Shildan Group

Metals: Thermally Broken, Justin Grebasch

Windows: Ikon Windows, Adrian Dymarczyk

Brokerage: RoseAnne Degliuomini / Compass