In this project we expanded an existing 2-story house by about 75% with a new third floor addition and a 12 foot deep full height extension in the rear yard. The building is organized around a 10 x 15 core that allows light to penetrate from a large skylight on the roof down to the lower floors. The ground floor was opened up as the kitchen, dining, and living room which leads out to the garden through a wall of glass. The second floor consists of two large bedrooms for the client's growing family, a laundry room, and a large skylit gallery. The new third floor has a master suite with 10’ ceilings facing the garden in the rear and a family room in the front that opens onto a south facing terrace with harbor views. A fourth floor bulkhead allows for stair access to a roof deck.

This house encompasses several sustainable initiatives. The rebuilt facade features recycled bricks from the demolished front and rear wall. This skin is both low maintenance & durable, and alone with the upside down roof, provides a tight and well insulated envelope. There is also under floor radiant heating, a condensing boiler / instant hot water heater, and highly efficient multi-zoned central air conditioning. Low emitting finish materials wherever possible throughout the interior.

Photography by Alexander Severin