Tribeca Townhouse with Wild and Fiery Facade by System Architects Will Soon Come to Life

This isn’t the sort of design we’d expect to see in Tribeca, but lo and behold, this bold statement by architect Jeremy Edmiston is about to become a reality along its brick and mortar block. The Tribeca Citizen reports that the single-family residence located at 187 Franklin Street is moving forward with construction on the kooky design which was first proposed in 2010. The project will see the building’s facade removed and replaced with an undulating red facade complemented by silvery, net-like balconies.

Franklin Street

The building was originally constructed in 1992 and is located on a landmarked block. Edmiston’s inspiration for the facade is actually far more functional and well-sited than one would guess at first glance. The architect writes on his site: “Because our clients’ home faces a public building, we added a new facade in which the windows are angled so that they protect the family’s privacy, while bringing in a whole lot of light.”

In addition to a transformed facade, two stories will be added, including a setback penthouse. The home is being renovated for a family of four who requested more space and a more modern floor plan.

The design won plenty of accolades when it went before Landmarks back in 2011. DNAinfo reported members said everything from “It more than works—it actually enhances the richness of the district” to “We should celebrate this project. Everything is familiar and yet nothing is familiar.… This is smart architecture as well as delirious architecture.”

The architect adds on his site that “the building flew through the Landmarks Commission like a recently released raptor, with a quite rare vote of 9 to 0 in favor of the building.”

[Via Tribeca Citizen]