"Never take the initial call at face value. It often grows into something entirely different. The homeowners approached OSSO Architecture seeking to expand into rental units above their residence after their family grew from three to five members with the birth of twins. Upon investigation, engineers discovered the building had settled significantly, requiring replacement of all joists and substantial structural stabilization before any expansion could proceed."
"The slope of the floors in the rental units was incredible. You felt like you were on a boat. The house was sinking significantly from front to back, which required substantial structural intervention to stabilize. This discovery transformed the project scope into a full gut renovation including the addition of a new penthouse-level entertainment space with dual terraces on each side."
OSSO Architecture partners Douglas Segulja and Margot Otten undertook a comprehensive brownstone renovation that evolved significantly from its initial scope. The homeowners initially sought to accommodate their growing family by expanding into rental units above their two-floor residence. During structural assessment, engineers discovered severe foundation settling causing sloped floors throughout the upper rental units. This necessitated replacing all joists and stabilizing the foundation. The project expanded to include a full gut renovation and the addition of a penthouse-level entertainment space with dual terraces. The substantial structural intervention required approximately twenty months to complete, with strategic redesign including staircase relocation to optimize light and space.
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