288
THE MODERN RESIDENCE
ABOVE & LEFT: The Woolworth kitchen renovation began with a long, narrow
space that was cluttered with outdated décor, and it became a clean, contemporary
space. The focal point of the kitchen is at the center island and provides wheelchair
access for the homeowners' son. This island is fabricated of concrete and accented
with black quartz and framed above with carved ceiling panels inspired by boiling
water. The dynamic, boat-shaped island retains the wood texture from its casting
and curves through the narrow space, allowing ease of use for wheelchair users.
FACING PAGE: For Hill House, the main objective was to preserve the look and
feel of the projecting saddle ridge. The owners fell in love with the land exactly
as it is and we didn't want to compromise that, so rather than building directly on
the ridge, the house straddles it. Divided into two wings, the house is connected
by a sun-soaked link. At the east, the public-facing wing greets visitors with an
old bronze bell delicately suspended from a pair of cantilevered steel channels.
The western wing withdraws from public view and projects into the thick canopy
of trees.
Photographs by Farshid Assassi
