Ben Krone's Gradient Architecture Delivers Four Timber Townhomes on Dikeman Street in Red Hook
In Red Hook, Brooklyn, architect Ben Krone of Gradient Architecture and investor Phillip Sulke have completed the construction of four three-story townhomes, each measuring 2,800 square feet, on a previously vacant lot on Dikeman Street. The timber structure is enveloped in a cream-colored aluminum screen, complemented by pressed limestone on the rear wall and interior. To enhance flood protection, the elevated units address the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Construction faced challenges due to a century-old maple tree and an R5 side-yard requirement. Utilizing a post-Sandy ordinance, Krone secured an additional 12 feet for dining rooms and bathrooms. Acquired via an HPD auction, the townhomes feature an asymmetrical facade and aligned mullions, filed as separate buildings. Krone and Sulke co-founded the development firm Hier.
Key facts
- Four townhomes on Dikeman Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn, designed by Ben Krone of Gradient Architecture
- Each unit rises three stories and measures 2,800 square feet
- Heavy timber structure with a cream-colored aluminum screen facade and pressed limestone rear wall
- Units are elevated above grade for flood protection, referencing Superstorm Sandy damage in Red Hook
- An R5 side-yard requirement had limited possible construction to a 10-foot-wide house
- A post-Sandy ordinance allowed rebuilding within the original footprint, adding 12 feet toward the street
- A maple tree over 100 years old with roots spreading 20 feet underground was preserved through piling
- The vacant site was purchased at an HPD auction; Phillip Sulke was principal investor
Entities
Artists
- Ben Krone
- Phillip Sulke
- Frank Oudeman
Institutions
- Gradient Architecture
- Hier
- HPD
- AN
Locations
- Red Hook
- Brooklyn
- New York
- United States
- Dikeman Street