HISTORIC HOUSE
Constructed in 1873 as a country residence for a prominent Boston family, the three-storey 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 the main house to the service wing is marked by a discernible reduction in spatial clarity, finish quality, and hierarchy of circulation.
The proposed intervention involves the surgical removal of the existing rear 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-storey 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 functional requirements of a covered drop-off, providing direct access to a mudroom and prep-kitchen.
Original architectural elements are repaired or reconstructed using modern, durable materials. The building envelope is comprehensively rebuilt to achieve high levels of insulation and airtightness, with historically consistent restoration in select areas and carefully composed contemporary interventions elsewhere.
A new detached four-car garage incorporates a guest house and recording studio above. It is designed as an extension of the contempory portions 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