# Renovated Contemporary Row Houses Light and Air Redesigned a Classic 1880s Brooklyn Row House By Madison Mackay | Published 2018-03-19 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brooklyn-row-house References: [dexigner](https://www.dexigner.com/news/30839) & [landa-arch](https://landa-arch.com/) Architecture group Light and Air recently completed the renovation and redesign of a [classic Brooklyn row house](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/clinton-hill-duplex) that was originally built in the 1880s. The design team turned the house into a 'Switchback' house -- a contemporary style of urban living that opens up and inverts the traditional row house style by replacing a stacked staircase with a switchback staircase, inserting a [skylight at the top](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/portland-house-renovation) to add stair volume. The existing brownstone was rundown, needing to be [completely renovated](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hearth-house) and have an entirely new floorplan created. Light and Air added large windows to the dark Brooklyn row house, as well as a clean white color scheme to give the illusion that it is much bigger than it really is. Image CreditL [Kevin Kunstadt](http://www.kevinkunstadt.com/) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 41% | Activity: 14% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Switchback Houses:** The development of a new style of urban living that inverts the traditional row house style by replacing stacked staircases with switchback staircases presents opportunities for architects and construction companies. - **Light-filled Homes:** A trend towards adding large windows and skylights in order to maximize natural light in homes presents opportunities for companies that manufacture energy-efficient and sustainable windows, as well as for construction firms that specialize in eco-friendly practices. - **Modernizing Historic Homes:** The renovation and redesign of historic homes using contemporary design principles presents a unique opportunity for architects and designers to blend the old and new, while retaining the character and charm of the original property. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** Architecture firms can capitalize on the trend towards modernizing historic homes by offering renovation and redesign services that blend traditional and contemporary design principles. - **Construction:** The development of new styles of urban living presents opportunities for construction firms to specialize in building unique and innovative homes that stand out in a crowded market. - **Window Manufacturing:** As there is an increasing trend towards maximizing natural light in homes, companies that manufacture energy-efficient and sustainable windows have a unique opportunity to provide a product that meets this need. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Clever Townhouse Renovations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/void-house.md) - [Bright Family Renovation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cobble-hill-townhouse.md) - [Restored Urban Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/west-84th-street-brownstone.md) - [Bold Architectural Renovations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flat-iron-house.md) - [NYC Apartment Renovations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/brooklyn-loft.md) - [Minimal Renovated Modern Townhomes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bedstuy-townhouse.md) - [Renovated 19th-Century Homes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/byr-architekti.md) - [Adaptive Family Residences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/no-ordinary-house.md) - [Refurbished London Victorian Townhomes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/br-house.md)