1948 House
Arlington, MA | 2007

Mid-century modernism in New England attempted to bridge the modern and traditional, many times with indecisive results.  Originally built in 1948, the latent potential of this house was unlocked by natural means - a large falling tree destroyed most of its second floor.  The new wood-clad upper story incorporates natural lighting and ventilation strategies in conjunction with a new openness: an existing sense of enclosure on the preserved first floor is translated into thickened thresholds on the new second floor that allow both free movement and visual privacy.  Horizontal windows and overhangs amplify moments from the original design while acknowledging the surrounding neighborhood’s scale.