This duplex condo in a Le Corbusier-inspired building designed by New York City based architect Kim Ackert of Ackert Architecture and completed in 2011 blends a clean, modern aesthetic with historical Brooklyn touches. The 1927-sq-ft residence occupies a floor and a half and has 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, private garden space and an open plan configuration of the living areas.

The front of the building is constructed of plaster and corrugated metal to evoke the industrial history of the Gowanus area. The south-facing windows along Carroll Street are shaded by angled metal louvers that allow warming winter sun but block summer heat. Past incarnations of the site have been Our Lady of Peace Church, a sewing factory, a paper clip factory, and a tool-and-die factory.

The front door of the apartment reveals an open-plan layout with a clear view of a 700 square foot paved patio and garden area. Floating stairs leading to the second floor are fashioned from reclaimed 19th-century timber salvaged from the original building and provide a slatted view of the garden. Two sets of floor-to-ceiling double-glazed French doors open out to the patio, extending the living space in fair weather. The patio is framed on three sides by half-story white masonry walls, affording a modicum of privacy in an urban setting. A dappled Japanese willow shades the patio and is nurtured by a graveled french drain on the west wall of the garden.

One foyer wall is occupied by an extra-spacious coat closet and adjoining pantry, and opposite is a guest bath covered with Heath white 2x8 tile and an accent wall of Heath red volcano tile showcasing a deep tub/rain shower with a European-style frameless glass shower door. To the right of the entrance, a floor-to-ceiling pivot door of wood and translucent poly encloses a light-filled guest room with a large closet and recessed overhead display space. One-way mirror doors allow privacy from the outside.

The outside world iskept at bay thanks to double-glazed front and back glass doors and windows, plus a silent, energy-efficient HVAC with 3-zone climate control and humidity sensors. Floating museum walls provide a light, airy feeling to the entire space, hovering over matte polished concrete slab floors throughout the ground floor.

The chef's kitchen features a 13' x 3' island with a seamless white Corian countertop atop custom-built hardwood cabinetry of walnut, book-matched vertical grain veneers fronting extra deep self-close sliding drawers. Inset into the island are a Blanco stainless-steel 10"-deep sink and Bosch stainless-steel dishwasher. The sink forms part of a work triangle with a Miele 36" combo fridge-freezer, Fisher-Paykel 36" gas 5-burner cooktop, Broan range hood, and built-in matching Viking Designer microwave and oven. The backsplash is crafted from white alternating matte/glossy Heath bowtie tile and illuminated by undercabinet LED strip lighting.

The kitchen leads to a stepdown living room with a woodburning stove that generously heats the ground floor and saves energy in winter.

The second floor houses the primary bedroom en-suite with floor-to-ceiling tilt-and turn windows facing the patio and garden. A pocket door affords privacy by sealing off the suite from the downstairs. The primary bedroom has ample space for a king-size bed. Two large walk-in closets off the sleeping area are ensconced in a private alcove framed by a pocket door that can function as a storage space, office, or nursery.

The bath, framed in medium-grey Brina tiles and charcoal square Land tiles, features a dual sink, walk-in rain shower with European-style frameless glass door, and a self-contained closet for a stacked full-size washer and dryer.

Located in the epicenter of Gowanus, the home is around the corner from Runner & Stone, Claro and Littleneck. The Union Street R is a couple of blocks away.
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