(Photo: Jason Schmidt)

1. The Skylight and Windows
They’d survived the synagogue’s various incarnations, but the skylight and windows were covered with a dropped ceiling when Robins and Nozkowski moved in; they pulled it down to let the light in.

2. The Balcony
When the building was a synagogue, women sat here, to be separate from men during services.

3. The Sculptures
This is Robins’s workspace; her pieces are stored on the wall and floors.

4. Basic Amenities
The couple did all the renovations in 1969 within a $3,000 budget. “We had to do the electricity and bring in water,” says Robins. “I think the gas lines were there, but the water lines were all corroded.”

5. The Couch and Artwork
The large geometric wood-frame couch was built by Nozkowski’s father in 1969, to comfortably hold a mattress. The artworks above are by various friends and acquaintances.

Related:

• Articles by Wendy Goodman
• Table of Contents: Apr 28, 2008 issue of New York | Subscribe!