Welcome to How They Pulled It Off, where we dive deep into the challenges of home design and uncover the meticulous details behind turning visions into reality.
When architects Margot Otten and Doug Segulja first stepped into a 1901 townhome in Brooklyn’s Park Slope, they immediately sensed something was amiss. "As soon as you walked in, you could feel the house pulling you toward the back," Segulja recalls. Otten adds, "It was so tilted, it felt like you were on a boat. If you were to put a ball at the front of the house, it would literally roll straight down to the back."
The Culprit: A Sinking Foundation
The townhouse was sinking due to unstable soil conditions at the back of the property. Tests revealed that the back of the lot was filled with old ash from coal-burning furnaces, dumped over a century ago, while the front sat on more stable soil. "This area is very close to a terminal moraine where glaciers melted tens of thousands of years ago, leaving an uneven landscape," Otten explains.
The Solution: Stabilizing the Foundation
The architects consulted with geotechnical and structural engineers to assess the soil and foundation needs. They installed 32 helical metal piles, each running 30 to 40 feet into the earth, to stabilize the building. "These piles provide enough support to prevent further sinking," says Segulja.
The Transformation: A Modern Family Home
Beyond stabilizing the foundation, the renovation included:
- Relocating the stair to the center of the townhouse for better flow and natural light.
- Adding a fifth-floor penthouse with a kitchenette and terraces.
- Creating an open-plan living area on the main floor, connecting to a back deck and garden.
Project Credits: Architect of Record: OSSO Architecture / @ossoarchitecture
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