Span Architecture Restores Bob Dylan's Album Cover Townhouse on Gramercy Park

New York studio Span Architecture has completed a seven-year restoration of Harper House, a historic 19th-century townhouse on Gramercy Park in Manhattan. The residence is named after New York mayor James Harper and appears on the cover of Bob Dylan's 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited, photographed by Daniel Kramer on the stoop when it belonged to Dylan's manager Albert Grossman. The renovation restored original interiors by prominent American architect Stanford White, including a salon with Cuban mahogany panelling and oak ceilings revitalised by Carlton House Restoration. The wrought iron porch and ornate gas lamps were refurbished by Ball & Ball. Modern interventions include skylights and double-height atriums to bring in natural light, a transformed kitchen, and attic spaces converted into family offices. Custom elements feature a chandelier by David Wiseman Studio incorporating the owners' favourite flora and fauna, and a rooftop mural by Robbie Simon. Landscaping by RKLA Studio includes terraces and gardens designed to dialogue with Gramercy Park. Owners Stephen and Allison Sullens founded the nonprofit Harper House Music Foundation during the renovation to support musicians and preserve musical legacies. The home displays Bob Dylan memorabilia alongside works by Thomas Struth, Diebenkorn, and Neal Casal. Span Architecture collaborated with interior designers Anne-Marie Winter and Christiane Duncan. Photography by Adrian Gaut.