For Park Slope Residences, Shapeless Studio transformed a historic Brooklyn brownstone into two apartments that preserve the building’s spirit while expressing its character in distinct ways.
Owned by two siblings and their families, Park Slope Residences presented Shapeless Studio with an unusual brief. Largely untouched before being divided into two apartments, the building was renovated to support contemporary family life while reinterpreting its historic details. Beyond this shared starting point, the siblings’ design sensibilities diverged, expressed through clean, minimal gestures downstairs and a richer, more fluid character upstairs.
The lower apartment is entered beneath the stoop at garden level, with a staircase rising to the parlour floor and the home’s main living spaces. “Downstairs, the ambitions were all about opening things up: bringing in as much natural light as possible, clearing away the visual clutter for a clean, pared-back feel and finishing out the cellar as a proper media room,” says Andrea Fisk and Jess Hinshaw, co-founders of Shapeless Studio. Shelving extending through the dining and living areas gives the family’s book collection a prominent place within the home, reflecting one owner’s work as a professional book conservator. The bedrooms occupy the garden level, with the primary suite at the front and two children’s bedrooms at the rear.
The upper apartment has a separate entrance through the building’s original carved doors, opening into a hallway anchored by a striking cherry staircase. Above, the kitchen and dining room connect to a rear terrace. Here, the priorities centred on preserving character, creating distinct nooks for everyday activities and integrating generous storage. A new penthouse addition provides a flexible living space at the top of the house.
As is typical of historic homes, introducing natural light was a key challenge across both residences. Fisk and Hinshaw explain, “In the lower apartment, enlarged steel-framed windows improve the connection to the garden, while a new window above the kitchen’s breakfast nook draws soft light into the interior. Upstairs, the penthouse and roof garden incorporate several skylights, including a walkable skylight above the staircase that filters daylight through the stairwell and an expansive skylight spanning much of the penthouse.” Together, these interventions bring natural light deep into the traditionally dim dwellings.
The material palettes further distinguish the two apartments. Downstairs, cool grey stone, white walls and walnut cabinetry create a subdued backdrop. Original parquet floors in rift-sawn white oak, cherry and walnut were carefully preserved, with timber pieces by Hudson Valley furniture maker Sawkille Co reinforce the restrained, natural sensibility. Upstairs, more walnut cabinetry complements the largely intact cherry woodwork and panelling. Dramatic stone features in the kitchen and custom dining table, while an all-brass island and sink add a moodier tone. In the penthouse, knotted reclaimed timber panelling nods to the tree house feeling desired by the owners.
Despite their differing identities, both residences reflect Shapeless Studio’s emphasis on functionality and respect for existing architecture, as well as a clear affection for the enduring character and beauty of Brooklyn brownstones. Neither feels like a showpiece; instead, each is personal, lived-in and shaped around the families who inhabit it, carrying the building’s history forward while meaningfully improving how they live.