Project Description
This project came to us with a lot of history. A greenhouse originally occupied the site. In the 50’s a simple hip-roofed, “L” shaped house was built, and in the 70’s a sun room and stair were added on the inside of the “L”, blocking the view and compromising any grace the original house had.
Our clients understood the potential of the original house and site and wanted us to realize it’s potential. Fortunately, the inside of the “L”, where the most damage had been done, was the area offering the best sun, views and privacy.
So we stripped the house back to its original shape and filled in with a one story, glazed set of spaces. Rather than have this infill be a new and separate space, it serves as an extension of existing spaces, drawing activities and traffic out into the most desirable spot. This infill also solves the problem of how to handle the corner of L shaped houses, allowing us to join the two prime end locations while using the corner for support spaces and a private guest room.
A low, thin roof caps the new infill and extends out at both ends to shelter steps and allow a glimpse of the new work from the street. Clear finished red cedar boards clad the new walls and porch ceiling. In deference to the original house and a limited budget, the original wings remain, painted with the same siding, details and window openings. We transformed the street facing facade through the addition of a larger canopy, clear wood siding and stairwell windows.
Although only slightly different from the street, the rear of the house and the interiors have taken on a completely
new life.