Site size: 3,861 square feet Project size: 5,480 square feet Program: Two connected yet disparate structures'which had accommodated a flower bulb distributor for more than half a century'were converted into a single house for owners with a passion for music and entertaining. Location: A highly visible site on a busy residential thoroughfare in Toronto. Solution: With only a few, carefully placed windows on the street-facing fa'ade, the house provides shelter from the busy road. A long hallway leads from the entrance to the protected interior foyer. The architects organized the living spaces around the foyer and an interior courtyard. A
Site size: 1,620 square feet Project size: 2,134 square feet Program: The renovation of a 15-foot-wide row house that can adapt to the evolving needs of its owners, including space for a rental apartment. Location: A small site in urban Brooklyn, New York. Solution: The architects gutted the existing structure and extended the rear of the house. They carefully arranged the bathrooms and kitchens, as well as a second stair (highly unusual for a row house of this size) to allow the owners to rent out part of the second floor. As their needs change, the owners could quickly and
Site size: 7.2 acres Project size: 1,776 square feet Program: The renovation of a holiday house that preserves existing materials while adding on to suit a growing family. Location: A rural portion of northern New South Wales, Australia with a subtropical climate. Solution: Working within a limited budget, the architects added a new breathable facade along the entire length of the single-story structure. The multifunctional wood frame fa'ade creates an open plan by supporting the ceiling rafters, and contains glazed sliding doors fitted with insect screens and retractable slatted blinds to extend the view and provide security when not occupied.
Site size: 60,711 square feet Project size: 5,431 square feet Program: A family house is integrated into the mountain landscape to offer optimal privacy and tranquility. Location: The base of the Northstar California Resort near Lake Tahoe, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Solution: The house is conceived in plan as three elongated bars. The largest encompasses the living, dining and kitchen areas, as well as sleeping quarters. A narrow bar of space for services separates the main portion of the house from the third bar'a garage on the northwest side. An insulated concrete wall divides these spaces longitudinally and situates
Site size: 151,584 square feet Project size: 2,720 square feet Program: A new residence connected to a concert space contained within a 1940s barn. Location: Three acres in a hilly and remote section of Beverly Hills, CA. Solution: The architects connected a new house to an existing barn that they repurposed for a recital space. The bedrooms on the second level offer views of the trees and woodland through expansive areas of glazing. Construction and materials: Since the renovated property is situated in a high-fire zone, the use of flame-resistant materials, such as Ipe inside and out, was important. The
Site size: 8,467 square feet Project size: 2,050 square feet Program: An affordable prototype of a modern spec house designed within the parameters of the Pierson Place Historic District. Location: A residential area in uptown Phoenix, close to public transportation. Solution: Architectural designers, The Ranch Mine, re-interpreted the original architectural approach of the neighborhood. Since the majority of the residences were built between the 1920s and 1950s, the designers had to adhere to traditional materials, such as stucco, and overall massing. In the single-story house, sliding doors open the living and dining areas to the outside, while bedrooms are grouped