New York City contains a large number of historic brownstones and townhouses that define much of the city’s residential character. These homes are distinguished by their architectural detail, aesthetics, and material quality. These homes remain among the most desirable housing types in the city. The typical townhouse in New York is approximately 20 feet wide, while wider homes such as 25 foot wide townhouses exist in more limited numbers.
A 25-foot-wide townhouse represents a substantial increase over the typical 20-foot-wide home in New York City, allowing for larger rooms, improved layouts, and more generous spatial proportions. The additional width expands design and planning potential, supporting a higher level of architectural resolution and a more expansive overall scale than typically found in New York City townhouses.
I am Jorge Fontan, owner of Fontan Architecture, a Manhattan-based architecture firm specializing in high-end residential renovations, including townhouses, brownstones, apartments, and lofts. We are currently designing a 25-foot-wide townhouse in Chelsea, Manhattan, where the additional width supports more expansive rooms, improved circulation, and a higher level of spatial resolution. This article addresses design, layout, and renovation considerations specific to 25-foot-wide townhouses in New York City, using our current project as an example.
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Advantages of 25-Foot-Wide Townhouses in NYC
The typical townhouse or brownstone in New York City is 20 feet wide. This width establishes a consistent rhythm along residential streets and reflects the historical patterns of urban development. Townhouses that exceed this standard width are significantly less common and represent a distinct category within the city’s housing stock.
A 25-foot-wide townhouse is exceptional in the New York City context. The additional five feet of width produces a meaningful shift in scale, allowing for larger rooms, improved spatial relationships, and a more expansive interior environment. This increase in dimension supports layouts that are more flexible and better suited to contemporary living, while also allowing for a higher level of architectural refinement.
In New York City, width is the primary constraint, and a 25-foot-wide townhouse operates at a fundamentally different scale than the typical row house.
Layout Strategies
A 25-foot-wide townhouse or brownstone supports a wider range of design strategies and planning options. One example is the integration of an elevator, which is increasingly popular with our clients on high-end townhouse renovations of all sizes. The additional width allows for more flexibility in locating the elevator, reducing its impact on primary living spaces and maintaining clearer spatial organization.
Homes of this width also accommodate more generous bedroom dimensions and improved proportions throughout. In this particular project, we incorporated a home theater within one of the floors, integrated into the overall layout without compromising adjacent spaces. The increased width allows for this level of programmatic flexibility while maintaining a cohesive and well-proportioned interior.
Parlor Floor Design
Each townhouse presents a unique set of existing conditions that inform the design approach. At Fontan Architecture, every project is developed through a careful process of understanding the client’s needs, lifestyle, and priorities, resulting in a tailored architectural response.
In this project, the home includes an existing garage, which is a significant advantage in New York City. The design relocates the garage to one side, allowing for a more effective overall layout and a clearer organization of space. This reconfiguration supports the introduction of a double-height entry foyer with integrated storage, seating, and a more defined arrival sequence.
The stair has been redesigned to align with the new layout, with an elevator incorporated beyond it. In narrower townhouses, elevators often impose on primary spaces; however, within a 25-foot-wide, 7,000-square-foot home, the elevator can be integrated with minimal disruption to the overall plan.
The parlor floor also accommodates a larger and more extensive kitchen. The design includes a substantial island, approximately 4 feet deep by 12 feet long, which supports both preparation and seating. The additional width allows for the inclusion of a pantry and powder room opposite the kitchen, elements that are typically difficult to incorporate within the less accommodating standard townhouse dimensions.
The living room benefits directly from the increased width, allowing for more generous furniture layouts and a more expansive gathering space. The proportions of the room support both daily living and larger social gatherings.
25 Foot Wide Townhouse Parlor Floor Plan
Designing a 25-Foot-Wide Townhouse
One of the primary design opportunities in a 25-foot-wide townhouse is the ability to create a more expansive and well-proportioned living space. The additional width allows for broader room dimensions, improved furniture arrangements, and a more open and continuous spatial experience within the primary living areas.
The increased width also allows for improved room proportions, avoiding the long and narrow configurations that are common in smaller townhouses. Rooms can be designed with more balanced dimensions, supporting better furniture layouts and a more coherent spatial composition. This contributes to a more comfortable and visually ordered interior environment.
In this Manhattan Townhouse we are renovating, the design incorporates a double-height living room, which, in combination with the additional width, creates a more expansive and visually prominent living space. The increased volume and width work together to establish a stronger sense of openness and spatial hierarchy within the home.
25 Foot Wide Townhouse with Double Height Living Room in Chelsea, Manhattan
Natural Light
The increased width also enhances access to natural light, allowing for larger openings and improved light distribution across the interior. In combination with vertical strategies such as double-height spaces and skylights, this creates a brighter and more dynamic living environment. In this project, the double-height living room and overhead skylight work together with the additional width to bring light deeper into the home and reinforce the sense of openness.
Spatial Opportunities
A 25-foot-wide townhouse supports a broader range of programmatic elements that are difficult to achieve within narrower homes. The additional width allows for the inclusion of larger secondary spaces while maintaining clear circulation and well-proportioned primary rooms.
One example is the incorporation of walk-in closets or dedicated dressing rooms. The increased width allows these spaces to be more fully developed, with greater storage capacity, improved organization, and a more comfortable relationship to adjacent bedrooms.
Kitchens also benefit significantly from the additional width. A 25-foot-wide townhouse can accommodate larger kitchens with substantial islands, allowing for improved workflow, increased storage, and more generous gathering space. The added dimension supports a more balanced layout between cabinetry, appliances, and circulation.
In many cases, the layout can also incorporate a dedicated pantry. The inclusion of a pantry allows the main kitchen to remain more controlled and visually refined, while supporting additional storage and functional needs. The increased width makes it possible to integrate these elements without compromising the proportions or clarity of the overall design.
The layout also incorporates two dedicated home offices, allowing for separate workspaces within the home. The additional width makes it possible to include these rooms without compromising the primary living areas, supporting a more functional and adaptable layout for contemporary living.
Renovating a 25-Foot-Wide Townhouse in NYC
A 25-foot-wide townhouse represents a significant departure from the typical proportions of New York City row houses. The additional width allows for larger rooms, more flexible layouts, and a higher level of spatial resolution throughout the home. This dimension supports a broader range of design strategies, from double-height living spaces to integrated secondary programs such as dressing rooms, large kitchens, and dedicated service areas.
These homes operate at a different scale within the city’s housing stock. The increased width allows for improved circulation, more balanced proportions, and a more cohesive architectural composition. When carefully designed, a 25-foot-wide townhouse can achieve a level of openness, clarity, and material expression that is difficult to replicate in narrower homes.
At Fontan Architecture, we design high-end townhouses throughout New York City, including 25-foot-wide homes that require careful planning and coordination. Our work focuses on developing clear layouts, designing with refinement, and well-integrated materials, with each project tailored to the specific goals and lifestyle of the client. If you are planning a townhouse renovation in New York City, we can guide the process from initial design through construction.
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Jorge Fontan, AIA, is an architect and founder of Fontan Architecture based in New York City. The firm focuses on residential design, including new homes and extensive renovations for discerning clients. Through collaborative dialogue that draws on the individuality of each client, projects develop as distinct architectural responses guided by thoughtful planning, precise detailing, and a commitment to creating enduring value.
