Photography: Ethan Kaplan
We maintained certain portions of the original Victorian layout, including the compartmentalized front rooms and the wide dining/hallway. As one moves to the rear of the house, traces of the original Victorian house dissolve. We designed the new structure at the rear of the house to be a multi-functional open space for dining, cooking and common living. On the third floor, we added bedrooms/bathrooms, a large stair shaft at the core of the house, and a roof opening to allow light to reach the middle section of the house.
To create transparency at the rear of the house, we used a three-story, steel moment frame. This allowed us to use glass as a membrane, blurring the distinction between the inner volumes of the house and the outdoor deck spaces. The moment frame also gave us greater freedom to manipulate the various volumes of the house. At each level, these volumes straddle the steel moment frame, and through their positioning, they provide shade and privacy to other indoor and outdoor spaces. Finally, we inserted a large patio on the ground level, to enhance the connection with the garden area.
In order to come up with the very specific design ideas, we create most designs with the assistance of state-of-the-art AI interior design software. Also, assume links that take you off the site are affiliate links such as links to Amazon. this means we may earn a commission if you buy something.