Historic High-Performance

The client’s goal was to transform this 1930s Georgian Revival, nestled in a historic district, into a healthy and resilient home well-suited to the world ahead.

Before beginning work in earnest, the team worked with town building officials and historic committee members to establish “the possible.” Once the path forward was clear, the front elevation of the home, which had suffered water and freeze-thaw damage over the last century, was painstakingly rebuilt to seamlessly blend with the original brick on the remaining facades. A small, more modern, space was discreetly added away from the public eye to create a place for the rhythms of modern family life. With a sound structure, focus shifted to creating a high-performance (think “air-tight and very well insulated”) layer behind the brick and all-electric systems that ensure a healthy indoor environment free of combustion gases and natural gas leaks common to gas ranges (regardless of brand/cost). The warm, minimalist interiors provide a welcoming space that creates a sense of calm and shelter from daily distractions.

While from the street the home looks much as it did when the neighborhood was first built, it is state-of-the-art in terms of performance and systems. Step inside, and you find it has been transformed through a simple aesthetic and a 21st century sense of flow and space.