While cleaning out the attic of this recently purchased Arlington farmhouse, an amazing view was discovered: the Washington Monument was visible on the horizon. The architect and owner agreed that this was a serendipitous opportunity. A badly needed renovation and addition of this residence was organized around a grand gesture reinforcing this view shed. A glassy “look out room” caps a new tower element added to the left side of the house and reveals distant views east over the Rosslyn business district and beyond to the National Mall. A two-story addition, containing a new kitchen and master suite, was placed in the rear yard, where a crumbling former porch and oddly shaped closet addition was removed. The new work defers to the original structure, stepping back to maintain a reading of the historic house. The dwelling was completely restored and repaired, maintaining existing room proportions as much as possible, while opening up views and adding larger windows. A small mudroom appendage engages the landscape and helps to create an outdoor room at the rear of the property. It also provides a secondary entrance to the house from the detached garage. Internally, there is a seamless transition between old and new. Photos: Hoachlander Davis Photography

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values.

Sama Jim Canzian
バンクーバーにある中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観の写真

Fotografie René Kersting
デュッセルドルフにある中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観の写真

Modern twist on the classic A-frame profile. This multi-story Duplex has a striking façade that juxtaposes large windows against organic and industrial materials. Built by Mast & Co Design/Build features distinguished asymmetrical architectural forms which accentuate the contemporary design that flows seamlessly from the exterior to the interior.

A new Tudor bay added to the front of an existing red brick home using new stone to integrate the base with the existing stone base. Fir windows and cedar trim are stained complementary colors. The darker window color draws out the dark "clinker" bricks. The roof is Certainteed Grand Manor asphalt shingles designed to appear as slate. The gutters and downspouts are copper. The paint of the stucco is Benjamin Moore Exterior low luster in color: “Briarwood”. Hoachlander Davis Photography

ミルウォーキーにある高級な中くらいなトラディショナルスタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (レンガサイディング、ウッドシングル張り) の写真

サンフランシスコにあるお手頃価格の中くらいなビーチスタイルのおしゃれな家の外観の写真

サンフランシスコにある中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観の写真

Denver Modern with natural stone accents.
デンバーにある中くらいなモダンスタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (石材サイディング) の写真

Greg Premru
ボストンにある中くらいなトラディショナルスタイルのおしゃれな家の外観の写真

This solid brick masonry home is playful yet sophisticated. The traditional elements paired with modern touches create a unique yet recognizable house. A good example of how buildings can have infinite variations and character while also conforming to the archetypes that we recognize, find comfort in, and love. This home reimagines one of the oldest and most durables forms of building--structural brick masonry--in the modern context. With over 60,000 brick and foot-thick walls, this home will endure for centuries. Designed by Austin Tunnell.

Atlantic Archives Inc. / Richard Leo Johnson
チャールストンにある中くらいなビーチスタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング) の写真

Ryan Bent Photography
バーリントンにある中くらいなカントリー風のおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリートサイディング) の写真

ボイシにあるお手頃価格の中くらいなトラディショナルスタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング) の写真

This project is a total rework and update of an existing outdated home with a total rework of the floor plan, an addition of a master suite, and an ADU (attached dwelling unit) with a separate entry added to the walk out basement. Daniel O'Connor Photography

Fine House Photography
ロンドンにある高級な中くらいなコンテンポラリースタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (レンガサイディング、マルチカラーの外壁、タウンハウス) の写真

A custom vacation home by Grouparchitect and Hughes Construction. Photographer credit: © 2018 AMF Photography.
シアトルにある高級な中くらいなビーチスタイルのおしゃれな家の外観 (コンクリート繊維板サイディング) の写真

HISTORIC DISTRICT OF KALORAMA, A THREE-STORY BRICK CITY HOME IS RENOVATED AND ADDED TO. A DARK CONSERVATORY FORM IS ADDED CONTINUOUSLY ALONG THE BACK OF THE HOUSE SOLVING CIRCULATION ISSUES AND ADDING SPACE FOR A BREAKFAST ROOM. THE ADDITION REFERENCES CONSERVATORIES DESIGNED DURING THE TIME, THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL HISTORIC HOME AND THE NEW CONTRASTING ADDITION IS CLEAR. THE UPPER LANDING OF THE MAIN STAIRWAY WAS CHANGED TO WINDERS. THE BENEFIT OF WHICH PURCHASES ENOUGH RISE TO ALLOW CIRCULATION BELOW THE WINDERS ALLOWING ACCESS AND VIEW TO THE BACK GARDENS. INFORMAL KITCHEN, FAMILY AND BREAKFAST WERE OPENED UP TO ADDRESS MODERN LIVING, THE PARENTHESIS OF THE ORIGINAL ROOMS WAS LEFT CLEARLY DEFINED. BRICK WALLS ARE ALSO ADDED TO THE FRONT ACT AS A BASE ON THE FRONT.