The Talk of the Town: MKCA’s Upper East Side Townhouse Wins Multiple Awards
The renovation of the Upper East Side Townhouse – designed by MKCA, Michael K. Chen Architecture – pushes the boundaries of architectural terra cotta in this innovative restoration. The Neo-Grec Brownstone residence was originally built in 1879 as a single family home, boasting 9,600 square feet. The spacious home was eventually converted into a 17-unit apartment building, and through the efforts of Michael Chen, the building has been transformed into a single residency with a 21st century twist.
Boston Valley Terra Cotta worked with Michael K. Chen Architecture to restore the outer facade of the building in addition to the two distinct terra cotta walls in the back of the residence. The facades use Boston Valley’s TerraClad Rain Screen system to achieve their means; one wall comprised of white, rectangular units creates a dynamic repetition that complements the innovative vertical garden in a charcoal glaze, known as the “Nano-biome Building Skin”. This wall is defined by its various planters, ranging in sizes, depending on the indigenous plant occupying its space.
In 2017, the Upper East Side Townhouse received the Renaissance Award from the Friends of the Upper East Side Historic District and the Residential Design Award in the Renovation and Adaptive Reuse category. In 2016, the Nano-biome Building Skin-34, MKCA Upper East Side Townhouse also won the R&D Award from the Architect’s Magazine.
The building has been featured in Metropolis Magazine and in Design Anthology Magazine.
It is always a pleasure for Boston Valley to contribute to such an award-wining project.
View all of our previous blog posts on this project here.
Terra cotta masonry units were used in the reconstruction of this iconic Brownstone facade.
The white TerraClad wall on the back of the townhouse.
The Nano-biome Building Skin utilizes the vertical garden to create space for indigenous plants of New York State to flourish.
