2023 Historic Preservation Commission Award Winner, Renovation, Alteration + Addition to Historical Home: Summit, NJ
New second story over the existing sunroom, new dormers dormers and a new entry portico , provide more space, more natural light, and blend seamlessly with the original historical design intent and street scape.
The owners purchased this home in 2010. Ten years later as a family of five, and with all that additional quality time at home imposed during the pandemic, it became clear that there was a need for increased bedrooms and home office space. While the existing single-story sunroom was the obvious place to expand at the first floor, there were a few complexities at the second floor. First, the width of the existing sunroom did not align with the front or rear elevation of the home. These offsets would make creating a seamless interior space a challenge. Second, the existing home had several non-conforming site conditions including lot coverage and floor area ratio. Careful attention paid to the home’s scale and the neighborhood fabric, as well as authentic historical details, it gained the Owners the variance relief necessary to do the work. In 2023, The City of Summit, Historic Preservation Commission recognized the home with an award for excellence in the contextual addition category.
The existing home and street scape. Clawson Architects works to create design solutions that solve the owners dilemma and are thoughtful, sensitive and are ultimately a good neighbor.
Drawings for the house by Walker and Hazzard Architects circa 1911 indicate that three attic dormers and a covered entry stoop were part of the early design concept but were never built. Our design realizes the attic dormers, but instead of the shed dormers originally proposed, references the Palladian details of the home. A new portico entry was designed using the existing landing and foundation for the front steps. The columns, cornice, and balustrade all draw from Palladian inspiration and Colonial Revival architectural details. The new second story addition over the sunroom is intended to resemble a sleeping porch. The increased volume is made sympathetic to the street scape and massing of the other homes by composing a series of windows, columns, pilasters and panels authentic to the original period of construction. While our work would not qualify as “rigorous preservation”, it gained a warm reception of those on the Historic Preservation Commission, and in 2023 The commission bestowed an award for contextual additions.
Completed project blends in with existing street scape and is a good neighbor.
Our design realizes the attic dormers, but instead of the shed dormers originally proposed, references the Palladian details of the home. A new portico entry was designed using the existing landing and foundation for the front steps. The columns, cornice, and balustrade all draw from Palladian inspiration and Colonial Revival architectural details. The finished project is consistent in size and scale with the neighborhood street scape. In true “Pandemic Style” we are waiting for the new custom door.
Primary Suite is enhanced by annexing space created with a new second floor addition over an existing sunroom. The window seat with built in book case offset the difference in the width of the main house and the set back on the addition making the room appear seamless.
Creative use of built in millwork mitigates some of the aforementioned challenges. In the Primary Suite, a window seat with built in bookshelves disguises a plan offset and makes the space appear seamless. Built-in bookshelves were again utilized in the youngest boy’s bedroom to address the offset in this room.
New bedroom created to the rear of the home over the existing sunroom. Built in Niche bookcase offsets the difference in the width of the main house and the addition over the sunroom. A wall of closets help to muffle the sounds from the laundry room.
New Palladian style dormers pick up on the existing Palladian windows in the attic bedroom and provide more natural light to the space.
New Expanded Primary Bathroom. Existing Primary Bath was enlarged, enhanced with a double vanity, larger shower and new lux fixtures and finishes.
New Second Floor Laundry Room created.
Shared Hall Bath was enlarged and enhanced with a double vanity, Private Water Closet Bath and new fixtures and finishes.
Photographs by Aimee Ryan Photography. Interior decor by Victoria Balson Interiors