Architect: tonic design
Project Location: Raleigh, NC
Project Completion Date: February, 2017
Short Description: The juxtaposition between old and new, historic and modern was the inspiration for this project. The 1500sf addition responds to the intent of the old 1916 Georgian-Revival house and builds upon its existing narrative of family, heritage, fine taste, and social grace. Simultaneously, it introduces an entirely new narrative that tells the story of a more open, relaxed lifestyle with 21st century amenities and attention to energy efficiency. Both narratives are articulated through materiality (brick and steel), form (a historic foursquare box and a simple, modern, rectilinear appendage), and spatial relationships created through floorplan and section.
Architect’s Statement: To uphold the general scale of this neighborhood and the manner in which the existing house has addressed the street for over 100 years, the addition’s mass is held within the outer planes of the old house, tucked against its rear elevation. And unlike other proposals the owners had seen, the plan divided the public and private spaces between two stories rather than letting the new construction consume the majority of the property As a result, the architects retained a generous backyard for outdoor play space.
Type of Construction: For the exterior walls, the architects chose Corten steel because it is as durable as the old house’s brick veneer and it relates to its color tones. Wood siding at the rear elevation adds an element of warmth to the rugged steel, similar to the way in which the old house’s white wood trim creates softer edges against the brick. How the existing house and the new construction linked together structurally presented the challenge. During design development, a sectional opportunity presented itself that would avoid a head-on collision between the old gabled roof and the addition’s flat one, and between the differing floor and ceiling heights: a slender, double-height interstitial space between the two structures. This innovative solution let the rooflines retain their individual character, allowed for a gentle transition between floor and ceiling heights, and left the rear brick wall of the old house, windows included, intact. The brick provides a compelling textural contrast to the smooth white walls of the addition. This double-height space marks the moment when the existing structure ends and new construction begins. To punctuate this moment, two tall, slim windows appear like exclamation points on either end of the space, letting sunlight spill through.