Dutch Kills House — Queens, New York

Leong Leong redesigned two houses sharing a courtyard on a single lot in Queens. The clients, curators and writers, sought a home for hosting and gathering their creative community and family. The front house contains primarily communal programming and work areas—including a courtyard-facing salon—while the rear house focuses on private living spaces.

The site sits at the western edge of Dutch Kills’ residential fabric, bordered by a four-story brick school to the south and fabrication shops and warehouses to the north and west. The courtyard represents an unusual grandfathered condition for the neighborhood, creating an outdoor oasis within this industrial context.

The interiors showcase art installations including murals by Kameelah Janan Rasheed and Felix Gonzalez-Torres. The project embraces the industrial vernacular through targeted demolition—a resourceful approach preferred by the clients. The design thoughtfully layers old and new, allowing existing materials like tin ceilings to coexist with fresh architectural elements.

The two existing houses are unified through new standing seam cladding, windows, and galvanized metal details—including awnings, an entry gate, and a balcony. A brick plinth and patio connect the structures while creating space for congregating and outdoor dining.