A Curved Cantilever Redefines a Williamsburg Streetscape

Rising above a familiar Williamsburg streetscape, a new mixed-use building by Commoncraft introduces a bold sculptural gesture along Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg. The most striking element is a curved cantilever that extends over the neighboring structure, bending the building’s mass in response to its site rather than stacking it vertically. It’s an assertive but controlled move, using form to negotiate constraints while subtly shifting the rhythm of the block.

The projecting section was designed with intent, reclaiming floor area lost to rear setback requirements while allowing for larger upper-level apartments with improved views and access to private outdoor terraces. Below, the building’s base responds to the irregular lot lines with larger carved openings at street level, signaling its public-facing uses while anchoring the building firmly to its context.

A regular window grid organizes the upper floors, giving the façade a steady rhythm that contrasts with the building’s sculpted mass. Within that structure, a small number of openings introduce rounded corners, a restrained variation that echoes the softened profiles of the cantilever below. The dark stucco exterior, embedded with reflective mica chips, gives the monolithic surface a muted shimmer as light shifts across it throughout the day, translating zoning constraints and irregular geometry into a composed architectural expression.

To see more from Commoncraft, visit their website.

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