HISTORIC HOUSE
Constructed in 1873 as a country residence for a prominent Boston family, the three-story mansard house contains grandly proportioned spaces and finely crafted details characteristic of its period. At the east-facing entry porch, remnants of a now-overgrown circular drive recall the original horse and carriage approach.
The servants’ quarters occupied the entire rear of the structure, exhibiting evidence of successive alterations to accommodate evolving patterns of domestic service. Externally, the roof geometry became increasingly irregular toward this portion of the house, with unresolved valleys and pitches contributing to years of water management and maintenance issues. Internally, the transition from main house to service wing was marked by a discernible drop in finish quality and loss of circulation clarity.
The renovation involves the removal of the entire service wing and its replacement with a new addition that reconciles the overall composition and better supports contemporary patterns of living. The addition continues the three-story massing of the original structure while introducing a single-storey modern porte-cochere that combines the formal presence of a grand entry hall with the functionality of a covered drop-off, providing direct access to a mudroom and prep-kitchen. What was once the rear of the house becomes the new front, allowing for dramatic contemporary interventions to the facades without detracting from the grandess of the past.
The building envelope is comprehensively rebuilt to achieve high levels of insulation and air-tightness. Contemporary interventions are made in certain areas, while in others historically consistent reconstruction occurs using modern durable materials
A new detached four-car garage incorporates a guest house and recording studio above, becoming an extension of the contempory portion of the house, while meeting the programmatic needs of a modern estate.
Program: Residence
Location: Milton, MA
Area: 11,500 SF
Project Team: I. Kanda, A. LeBlanc, K.Yang
GC: Denali Construction Corp
Structural: Denoya