Arlington VA
The existing house was a one-story rambler, and the Owners were attracted to the "Prairie-style" and Frank Lloyd Wright. Kube's approach was to utilize aspects of that style, including hip roofs, large overhangs, and a sense of horizontality, while still working within its own particular aesthetic of minimal modernism. Our goal was to make the addition to this house look like it had always been there, but to change the character of the house completely. On the interior, an open plan was created, with as few dividing walls as possible, which included removing a large number of existing walls which had previously divided the house into separate rooms and hallways. A new modern kitchen was designed in the same location as the previous one, but with a new glass-enclosed eating nook added in the back. The entire existing gable roof was removed and replaced with hip roofs on both floors. Large overhangs were created to reach out to the site, so the house becomes more a part of its surroundings. A new stair was located at the front of the house, with glass block on both levels, creating the sense of a glass tower which glows at night. The master suite on the second floor faces the back of the house, with only high clerestory windows in front. A small reading nook was designed at the rear corner of the master bedroom, with large windows on both sides, to create a sense of privacy within the larger space. Views of the rear garden were set up at key places, including the end of the main upstairs corridor, and between the bathroom mirrors, so the landscape seems to become a part of the interior atmosphere of the house.
The existing house was a one-story rambler, and the Owners were attracted to the "Prairie-style" and Frank Lloyd Wright. Kube's approach was to utilize aspects of that style, including hip roofs, large overhangs, and a sense of horizontality, while still working within its own particular aesthetic of minimal modernism. Our goal was to make the addition to this house look like it had always been there, but to change the character of the house completely. On the interior, an open plan was created, with as few dividing walls as possible, which included removing a large number of existing walls which had previously divided the house into separate rooms and hallways. A new modern kitchen was designed in the same location as the previous one, but with a new glass-enclosed eating nook added in the back. The entire existing gable roof was removed and replaced with hip roofs on both floors. Large overhangs were created to reach out to the site, so the house becomes more a part of its surroundings. A new stair was located at the front of the house, with glass block on both levels, creating the sense of a glass tower which glows at night. The master suite on the second floor faces the back of the house, with only high clerestory windows in front. A small reading nook was designed at the rear corner of the master bedroom, with large windows on both sides, to create a sense of privacy within the larger space. Views of the rear garden were set up at key places, including the end of the main upstairs corridor, and between the bathroom mirrors, so the landscape seems to become a part of the interior atmosphere of the house.
