This residence is situated along a cherry tree–lined street characterized by predominantly contemporary homes informed by traditional forms. Within this context, the client sought to create a distinctly modern house, drawing inspiration from mid-century design principles.
The initial program envisioned a conventional arrangement: a two-story structure set above a walkout basement. The main level was to accommodate entry, living, dining, and kitchen functions, along with a guest suite designed for accessibility by aging parents, and supporting spaces including a two-car garage, mudroom, and laundry. The upper level was planned to include a primary suite, a bedroom suite for the clients’ young daughter, and an additional guest room. The outdoor program called for a pool, associated patios, and shaded gathering areas.
Through the design process, it became clear that this configuration would result in a building whose massing felt overly large and out of scale with its surroundings. In response, we proposed an alternative organizational strategy that repositions the primary living spaces at the lower level, allowing direct, at-grade access to the rear yard. This approach reduces the perceived scale of the house from the street while strengthening its connection to the landscape.
Arrival is marked by a bridge that spans a sunken garden, introducing a moment of transition while bringing natural light into the dining area below. From the entry, a catwalk provides circulation to the primary and daughter’s suites, overlooking the main living level and reinforcing a sense of spatial continuity. A third-level guest suite—referred to as the “sky box”—is accessed via a central stair tower that vertically connects all levels of the home. This elevated volume hovers above the primary roofline, forming a covered porch accessed from the primary suite and offering expansive views over the rear yard and the wooded landscape beyond.
The residence is clad in horizontal cedar planks, complemented by travertine stone used for garden walls and site retaining elements. The plan takes the form of a fragmented “Z,” allowing the building to settle into the site while shaping a sequence of varied outdoor spaces that support both privacy and gathering.
The site for this residence is located on a Cherry tree lined street of mostly contemporary built traditionally influenced homes. The client desired to build a modern home with a mid century influence.
The clients original program was based on a 2-story structure over a walkout basement. A first floor for entry, living, eating, cooking, a guest suite with easy access for aging parents and support facilities such as a 2-car garage, mudroom, laundry, etc. The second floor was to house a master bedroom suite, a suite for their young daughter and another guest suite. They also desired a pool in the rear yard with patios and an area for shade.
We convinced the client that the 2 story above a walk out basement format would appear to massive and too distinct from the adjacent structures. We proposed a plan in which the main level program is placed on the lower grade giving on grade access to the rear yard. The entry is accessed by crossing a bridge, which spans over a sunken garden, this allows light into the dining area below. A catwalk, which overlooks the lower main level, is the circulation to the Master and Daughters suite. The second guest room (dubbed the sky box) is placed on a 3rd level is accessed through a central stair tower that connects all the levels. This guest suite hovers over the main roof and creates a covered porch accessed from the master bedroom, all overlooking the rear yard and woods beyond.
The residence in clad in a horizontal cedar plank with travertine stone tiles used on the garden and retaining walls. The plan takes the form of a broken up “z” to integrate into the landscape and create various outdoor spaces.
