PROJECT  West Hill

ARCHITECT  EastWing Architects

LOCATION  Baltimore, Maryland, US​

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  4/25/2025

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Evan Wivell, Ryan McCloskey
OWNER/CLIENT 
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  Apex Builders Group
PHOTOGRAPHER  Frazier Springfield
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
CIVIL ENGINEER 
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER  Steadfast
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  
When the clients first purchased the property, it consisted of a four-story end-of-row townhouse and a three-story carriage house apartment connected by a simple wooden deck. This masonry infill structure, part of South Baltimore’s Harbor Walk redevelopment in the early 1980’s, was in desperate need of updating and simplification of plan.

The primary objectives of the project were to unify the existing structures, modernize the spaces within, and add a large roof terrace to capture views of the city beyond. The home lacked any inkling of personality, nor did it reflect the character of its new owners. Design challenges included adding functional, refined, and distinct spaces within the tight constraints of the townhome plan, creating a bold contemporary home while conforming to local historic district guidelines, and adapting the existing structure to accommodate a dramatic outdoor space.

By filling the void between the two existing structures with a distinct, four-story “connector”, a harmonious plan emerges. Inside the connector, one will find a breezeway entrance accessed through a walled courtyard, an office, a library, as well as a lounge that provides access to the new roof terrace. A new elevator replaces the volume once occupied by a chimney.

Responding to the limited floor to floor heights of the existing home, this connector provided a great opportunity to emphasize verticality. The middle floors of the connector contain a two-story library opposite the client’s workstation. The library millwork wraps around the windows to make a feature wall capped by a sliding ladder to easily access the high shelves. On the third floor, when walking to the primary suite, one passes the library via a bridge that offers views through the stacks and to the park beyond. On the fourth floor, the lounge offers a hint of the skyline before stepping out on the terrace. To ensure the best views, this level was raised 24 inches, and a glass rail was installed for uninhibited views of Baltimore City. The original, stone capped gabled end wall of the carriage house remains, and from street level the glass railing disappears, revealing little of the new world above.

The clients requested a serene interior as a retreat from their busy work schedules. To deliver this, the team curated a purposefully reserved palette, the primary material being white oak. To complement the natural wood, touches of muted terrazzo, knurled chrome hardware, hand-hewn tiles, and leathered quartzite finish the spaces. Walls are left intentionally sparse and uniformly white, finished to a gallery quality.

This project required extensive reviews from local organizations. The architects shepherded the design through the Otterbein Community Association, the Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation, as well as the City Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals. A few changes were made along the way, but the overall vision was maintained to deliver a truly one-of-a-kind Baltimore home as unique as the family that resides within.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. Connecter from Above / Photography by Urban Ignite
2. Breezeway entrance through the park / Photography by Frazier Springfield
3. Library in the afternoon sun / Photography by Frazier Springfield
4. Rooftop terrace with the City beyond / Photography by Urban Ignite
5. Jewel box kitchen / Photography by Frazier Springfield
6. Light filled library from above / Photography by Frazier Springfield
7. Custom concrete fireplace / Photography by Frazier Springfield
8. Floating stair with illuminated railings / Photography by Frazier Springfield