Framing the View: A moody, telescoping interior designed for a photographer.

Designed for a photographer, this renovation reconfigures a traditional townhouse into a distinct top-floor rental and a private owner’s duplex below. The primary spatial challenge was severing the traditional vertical circulation, closing off shared basement access to create a self-contained lower unit that functions as a private sanctuary.

The architectural concept mimics the mechanics of a camera lens. We structured the first floor as a series of telescoping portals—framed openings that progressively increase in size as they move from the intimate bedroom zone out toward the expansive kitchen and rear garden. The central "shutter" of this sequence is a monumental structural archway. By retaining the load-bearing wall but carving out this extra-large aperture, we solved the engineering constraints while visually unifying the front and back of the home.

In contrast to standard white-box renovations, the material palette is intentionally moody and cinematic. Deep hues, cement tiles, and dark natural woods create a rich, shadow-filled atmosphere. Balancing this modernity, we stripped years of paint from the original flooring and baseboards, refinishing them to reveal their historic character. The result is a home that feels like a series of composed frames, grounding the owner’s creative life in history and texture.

Photography by JJ Sulin