Project Description
The client purchased a high-quality example of 1958 era residential architecture that was in severe disrepair, destined to be demolished like so many of homes of this era. In recent years, however, there has been a renewed interest in mid-20th century modern homes as missing links in the evolution towards our current residential architecture. The home featured iconic roof geometry, exposed timber beams, large expanses of glass addressing the views, and strong datum lines, which emphasized the horizontality of the home’s massing and views of the low-lying landscape of the Eastern Shore beyond. We were sensitive that demolishing the house was not in keeping with goals of sustainability. Our goal was to renovate this mid-century home in a manner that preserved its architectural character while creating a home that meet the needs of a 21st century family, was more energy efficient, and took fullest advantage of its site. New elements were developed to be sympathetic to this era, but which were not intended to be construed as original to the home. Numerous prior remodeling projects diluted the original design intent. Our renovation restored the scale and open planning of the main central space, as well as its intimate connection to the river. An enclosed interior swimming pool and a freestanding metal fireplace that subdivided the space were removed. New walnut panels were installed to maintain the same door height datum and scale as the original, while permitting the introduction of insulated glazing in the transom windows. The west end of the home was converted to a private master suite, maintaining the exposed ceilings and maintaining the home’s horizontal datum. All of the existing secondary bedroom built-ins were reconstructed to maintain their original character. The exterior was restored, with a new roof and glazing panels. The red brick was painted and repointed with recessed horizontal joints to emphasize the horizontal. The car port was reconstructed and the attached storage room was converted to a pool house. An in-ground pool was added with a small pool equipment building that anchors the pool terrace. This classic mid-century modern home was spared from demolition and will remain for years to come.