As most designers know, it’s infinitely more challenging to design one’s own home than a client’s. Although I am constantly reimagining my own spaces in my head, when I was faced with the opportunity to renovate our house, I became riddled with self-doubt. Add to that the complexity of living in a split-level—one of the more difficult styles to modify—and I found myself at a standstill, a 'writer’s block‘ so to speak, to the point that I decided to redesign the backyard instead. But after 10 years, and with two growing boys, the walls started to close in on us. There’s no greater motivator than the idea of a quiet space away from two toddlers, so I sharpened my pencils and made an attempt. 

The organizing principle of the new plan is its orientation to the two 50-year old beech trees that were planted by the original owners, the existing music studio, and the new patio. The existing house was reconfigured in such a way to better interact with the landscape. Shifting the central volume of the house forward, away from the primary beech tree, gives the tree roots some needed “breathing room”, while also creating a new courtyard configuration of the home. A new primary suite and guest room are added to the rear of the home. Adding a screened porch off of the new kitchen, and adjacent to the existing patio, further defines the courtyard, strengthening the interdependence of indoor and outdoor spaces.

For the front of the house, a new bedroom, family room, and walk-out terrace are added to the two-story side of the split level. A covered porch and carport are added onto the single-story side. These changes engage unused areas of the site and respond directly to the home’s location, taking into account the views, light patterns, and the experience of moving through the space—from arrival, entering the front door, all the way through to the back courtyard.

Collectively, the design strives to create a seamless connection between the original house, the addition, and the surrounding context, making the relationship between building and site feel both natural and inevitable. 

Status: Schematic Design