2011 Best in Show: Cincinnati CORAwards

As in many older homes, the existing kitchen was small, isolated, and never intended to function as the heart of the home. Over the years, the space had become crowded and cluttered by everyday life. Yet this hillside home featured thick, load-bearing stone walls that were not easily modified.

The design strategy involved rediscovering, exposing and featuring these stone walls at the interior of the home. Because the construction type was not conducive to enlarging the kitchen, non-essential functions were removed from the kitchen and relocated to a small, seamless addition featuring: a new entry porch, closet, home office, and lockers. A small, awkward breakfast room bay that had been added 30 years prior was removed, and a light-filled breakfast room and dining terrace were added. The kitchen, featuring a new fireplace, was re-designed to carefully maximize its small footprint.

Careful attention was paid to the selection and detailing of materials to assure that the street-facing addition would meet programmatic needs without detracting from the original house. Much effort was spent on camouflaging the new work. Sometimes the best projects are very quiet.