Location: Single family residence in 30 year old subdivision.
Program: The house was built in the early 1980’s as a single story earth sheltered design with portions of the north, west, and southerly walls protected with earthen berms. The house is relatively unchanged except for a recent kitchen renovation and the removal of the earth berm along the southern wall. The owners’ would like to add a master suite, private study, and to create an open floor plan with the major living spaces located towards the southern exposure.
Client: A professional couple who would like to update their home to today’s standards.
Design Solution: By utilizing the existing square footage in an unused bedroom and a sunken sun porch; and by removing several interior partitions we were able to create an open floor plan with the living room, a sitting room, and entry facing southwest. A master suite and dressing room occupy two existing bedrooms; with the master bath in a new addition. The west facing study occupies both a new addition and original living space. The interior trims and details are done in painted simple flat stock profiles, and built-in cabinetry with cherry and granite in keeping with the earlier kitchen renovation. The new additions repeat the existing shed roof massing and details of the original house design.
