New York. A row house lights up with a new staircase

The Light and air studio (L / AND / A) in New York renovated a row house from 1880, changing the type of staircase and by inserting a skylight. The operation has created more light, where traditionally the Big Apple's row houses are very dark, narrow and divided. The strategy to achieve this visual opening was to connect the floors with a new type of stairs, and to create a visual continuity between the exterior and interior (thanks to the skylight). The result is light and open.

The addition of the skylight (about 4x2 meters) by architect Shane Neufeld, oriented from North to South along the length of the building illuminates every level with natural light. The change in scale required significant structural work. Due to the increase in the depth of the staircase, part of the existing structure has been removed. To achieve this, metal beams at each level were inserted, reinforcing old joists, and doubling the original opening. The result is a space of 9.8 meters that visually connects the three floors.