Alexandra Barker renovates a Brooklyn townhouse through a narrative of light, texture and color

We return to the work of Alexandra Barker, founder of the New York-based studio Barker Architecture Office (BAAO), whose warm and sophisticated approach continues to captivate us. Her latest project, Adelphi Townhouse, is a comprehensive renovation of a four-story row house in Fort Greene, a leafy, family-friendly neighborhood of Brooklyn that stretches around the park of the same name. Designed for a young couple with two small children, the intervention addresses the demands of contemporary living with architectural sensitivity while crafting a compelling narrative of light, texture and color.

The house presented significant structural challenges: an unusable staircase, a deformed rear wall, and uneven floor levels, which Barker resolved with subtle yet radical design strategies. Among them: adjusting floor heights to expand the kitchen area and keeping an open-plan layout on the main floor to support family life.

The entryway, clad in graphic blue-and-white tiles, features a custom-designed bench and cabinet for storing strollers. Across the interiors, fixed elements —bookshelves, cupboards, sideboards— have been conceived as built-in pieces, establishing a sense of visual and material continuity throughout.

Natural materials and a vibrant color palette

Avoiding conventional decorative formulas, Barker opts instead for a tactile richness drawn from white oak, fluted glass, textured stucco and terrazzo surfaces. A warm, neutral palette is animated by vivid touches of blue, ochre and yellow — from the sun-drenched stucco wall in the dining area to the graphic tiling of the children’s bathroom.

Each floor is carefully considered: the first dedicated to shared family life; the second, a private suite complete with terrace, corner study, freestanding bathtub and working fireplace; the third, a children’s realm, with ceilings papered in clouds and birds, and a luminous bathroom lit by a generous skylight.

A home filled with light and detail

Barker’s design transcends the utilitarian to build a mood — that of sophisticated comfort. From the sculptural pendant light by Lambert et Fils above the staircase to the custom-made furniture in terrazzo and oak —tables, upholstered benches, integrated desks— each element forms part of a harmonious domestic choreography.

Adelphi Townhouse is a compelling example of how residential architecture can be functional, fully personalized and aesthetically engaging all at once.

Materials and furnishings

ABC Stone. Terrazzo and cement tiles and countertops by Concrete Collaborative. Concrete vanity sink by Truform. Plaster finishes by Adrian Coos. Steel doors by Portella Steel. Concrete sink by Kast. Zellige tiles by Zia. Concrete bathtub by Concretti. Puzzle tiles by Mutina, distributed by Stone Source. Wall sconce by Lambert et Fils. Fixtures by Watermark Plumbing Fixtures.

Art: Fran O’Neill (living room). Karin Schaefer (third-floor hallway)

Furniture: Jalis sofa by Cor Sitzmöbel. Custom cabinetry and oak dining table. Custom terrazzo and oak table. Custom oak desk.

Project: Adelphi Townhouse.
Interior architecture: Barker Architecture Office (BAAO).
Architect: Alexandra Barker.
Location: Fort Greene. Brooklyn.
Completed: 2025.
Photography: Gieves Anderson.

Alexandra Barker

Alexandra Barker, FAIA, is a New York–based architect and educator known for her innovative approach that integrates design, pedagogy, and social engagement. Founder and principal of Barker Associates Architecture Office (BAAO), a practice established in 2006, Barker leads a studio that ranges from private residences to educational and community projects, with a strong focus on the diversity of users and contexts.

Graduating cum laude in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard College, Barker went on to earn her Master of Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, where she was awarded the Templeton Kelly Prize and the Clifford Wong Housing Prize. Her academic background is complemented by over twenty years of teaching experience at Pratt Institute, where she currently serves as interim chair of the Graduate Architecture and Urban Design Department. There, she has been a pioneer in integrating sustainable practices and pedagogical approaches that connect education with professional practice.

BAAO’s work is distinguished by its sensitivity to the needs of diverse communities and its ongoing exploration of emerging materials and technologies. Recent projects include the City Kids Education Center, Mi Casita Preschool & Cultural Center, and the Maple Street School, all located in Brooklyn. The studio also participates in initiatives such as Design Advocates and the Hart Island Project, which aim to expand access to design in underserved communities.

Barker has also developed forward-thinking projects that address contemporary challenges, such as Enveloping Grounds, a speculative proposal exploring the integration of energy-generating panels into existing buildings using materials like hempcrete and algae. Her interdisciplinary outlook and commitment to sustainability and equity have established her as one of the leading voices in contemporary architecture.

Source: Alexandra Barker y V2com newswire.

Project by Alexandra Barker