129 Market Street
Portsmouth, NH

Small-space design in historic waterfront building

In partnership with Aland Realty and Dockham Builders, WINTER HOLBEN designed Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s first microunits. 

The building itself was originally a brewery warehouse constructed in the 1800's, and holds all of the character and charm of a century-old building, with sought-after exposed brick and beams in its interior. Coupled with waterfront views that often include Portsmouth's infamous tugboats, the office condo within 129 Market Street was an ideal candidate for residential space. WH worked closely with Dockham Builders to design a space that would highlight the historical nature of the building, while updating it with a modern, contemporary look and feel. The dated, underlit office was transformed from an awkward office layout into two high functioning residential units with one embracing the urban city view and the other enjoying the river. Hardwood floors replaced the dated carpets, and the bright white of the ceilings and walls opened up both spaces to make them warm and inviting. This micro unit model is a highly sought after unit type in downtown Portsmouth, adding variety and affordability to a market that is high in demand. At WINTER HOLBEN we enjoy the challenge of designing for small spaces and look forward to the next one!