A rebounding economy, along with improving neighborhoods and even a few housing bargains is driving more New Yorkers toward Brooklyn. Known for its artsy crowds and open loft spaces, the area is even attracting Manhattanites and creating business opportunities for architects like James Koster.
Award-winning, Brooklyn Heights-based architect Koster said that in 2012 his firm is seeing an increase in people looking to make Brooklyn their “Home Sweet Home,” renovating brownstones in the process. “People want to move to areas of Brooklyn that were once considered undesirable,” said Koster, CEO of James Koster Architect, PLLC. “There's a lot of opportunity there for us to grow our business.”
Brooklyn is an older part of New York, home to many historic districts, neighborhoods and buildings. As an architect who frequently appeared before the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Koster is uniquely poised to do elegant and accurate renovations, keeping the older, unique flavor of a building while making it livable in today's world. For restoring a Civil War-era newspaper building, he even won a New York State Preservation League award for Excellence in Historic Preservation.
Business prospects have not always been so bright. Along with economic instability, architects like Koster experienced periods of fewer phone calls and even fewer projects that could move from prospect to fruition. Koster said his love for art and design helped him overcome the tough times, as did diversifying projects and expanding his customer base.
Before becoming a successful New York City architect, Koster's love of renovation, architecture and design grew out of inspiration he felt as a young boy watching his mother – also an architect – work on different projects. “I understood the role of an architect as a child,” Koster said. “I developed an early interest in drawing and painting. It was an easy decision to go into the field.”
Koster quickly rose to the top of his field, becoming a part of major renovation projects and creating original designs across the city. He was even a guest designer on HGTV's hit show, “Kidspace.” After 10 successful years at a fine mid-sized firm in New York City, he founded his own firm in 2003. Koster not only takes part in New York metro area projects, but his nationally-recognized expertise is also requested for projects across the country.
Today, Brooklyn's star has risen yet again, and Koster plans to help his clients become a real part of its exciting revitalization.
For more information, please visit: www.jkosterarch.com
