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ABOVE, LEFT & FACING PAGE: This project is a renovation and additions to an existing house built in the
1960s. The project had all the problems of a house of this vintage: low ceilings, inefficient mechanicals,
and spaces that were too small for the family's needs. What was once a series of low, dark spaces is now
bright, expansive rooms with views throughout the wooded property. Although the project was limited
by the existing footprint and the wetlands on the rear of the site, we were able to extrude the f ront façade,
creating space for an enlarged dining room, a grand entrance, and a study. The awkward floor levels
created by the previous, insensitive additions were softened by minimizing the number of steps, raising
the ceilings, and lowering some of the floors. At the same time, we added a usable third floor. A central
core was carved out of space f rom the dining room and living room to increase the size of the entry. We
also pushed the walls at the center point, allowing us to build a floating elliptical staircase that goes up
three stories.
Photographs by Robert Benson
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