ROWHOUSE PLAYING CARDS

Rowhouse Playing Cards King of Clubs

Illustrated by Diane Hu

Each deck features fifteen watercolor illustrations by Diane Hu, which are based on some of The Brooklyn Studio’s favorite rowhouses throughout the city. They showcase a variety of architectural styles, ranging from Federal and Greek Revival to Neo-Tudor and Flemish Renaissance.

Rowhouse Playing Cards Grid

Typeset in Community Gothic

The Rowhouse Playing cards are typeset in Community Gothic, a newly released font by Frere-Jones Type. Community Gothic is inspired by nineteenth-century “jobbing” type — nondescript fonts that were used for quick, inexpensive, commercial print jobs. Its letterforms have slightly irregular curves, echoing the gritty imperfections of nineteenth-century print. The Brooklyn Studio commissioned renowned type designer Tobias Frere-Jones to design an accompanying set of playing suits to pair with Community Gothic.

Produced to Exacting Specifications

Printed by the Expert Playing Card Company, the Rowhouse Playing Cards are produced to exacting specifications. They are designed to meet the needs of enthusiasts, collectors, magicians, and professional card-players alike.

Rowhouse Playing Cards Poker Hands
Rowhouse Playing Cards King of Spades
Rowhouse Playing Cards Tuck Box

Each deck retails for $20. Transparent pricing is important to us. Following is a breakdown of the price.

  • $10

    The Brooklyn Studio’s cost per deck.

  • $10

    Donation to the Historic Districts Council per deck.

  • THE BROOKLYN STUDIO

    The Brooklyn Studio is an architecture and interior design firm committed to restoring and enhancing New York City’s historic fabric. Founded in 1997, The Brooklyn Studio specializes in the rehabilitation of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century rowhouses. Over the last twenty-six years, the firm has rehabilitated more than 135 rowhouses in twenty historic districts throughout New York City.

    Learn More about The Brooklyn Studio 
  • Diane Hu Watercolor Painting

    DIANE HU

    Diane Hu is a Brooklyn-based artist who specializes in small-scale watercolors of New York City rowhouses. She is inspired by the city’s abundance of historic buildings and its diversity of architectural styles. Diane lives in Park Slope with her husband Robert, her daughter Alice, and a Shiba Inu named Ellie.

    See More of Diane’s Work 
  • HISTORIC DISTRICTS COUNCIL

    The Historic Districts Council (HDC) is the citywide advocate for New York’s neighborhoods. HDC works to ensure the preservation of significant historical, architectural and cultural neighborhoods, buildings, and open spaces; to uphold the integrity of New York City’s Landmarks Law; and to further the preservation ethic.

    Learn More about HDC 

Because this is a limited edition product, returns will not be accepted.

Rowhouse Playing Card photographs by Ethan Herrington.

In 2023, we produced a limited-edition LEGO set featuring Brooklyn landmarks. Read more about The Brooklyn Studio LEGO Set.