PROJECT  Stevenson House

ARCHITECT  PI.KL Studio

LOCATION  Stevenson, Maryland, US​

PROJECT COMPLETION DATE  8/1/2022

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN TEAM  Courtney Richeson, Ryan Couto, Pavlina Ilieva, Kuo Pao Lian, Donna Ryu
OWNER/CLIENT  Robin Edlow Heller and Arnon Heller
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION MANAGER  PI.KL Construction
PHOTOGRAPHER  Steven Norris
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Form Garden Design
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STRUCTURAL ENGINEER  Structura, Inc.
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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT  
Built in the 1950s and overlooking several acres of bucolic farmland, this house was originally slated for demolition to make way for a new single-family home. However, the owners had a change of heart and instead explored the option to renovate the house for their father, a prolific art collector.

The design process began with taking inventory of the positive attributes of the house, including its existing perimeter walls that were in good condition, and its attractive gable form sitting atop a monolithic base with beautiful views from all vantage points. The design team then sought to increase the ground floor’s usability, first by providing a large opening in the floor plate to create connection between floors and second by coupling it with an open box stair and large window to the exterior to increase the porosity between floors and access to natural daylight. The original finished ceiling was demolished, exposing the floor’s framing and decompressing the floor-to-floor height. What was once the garage was now absorbed into the ground floor’s livable area, setting up a new entry sequence into what would be the father’s gallery, allowing him to share his art in an open house fashion. The ground floor also contains the home’s utilities, laundry, guest room, bathrooms, and office.

Above, the more public living spaces are flanked by a master suite on one side and two bedrooms and shared bath on the other. They are connected by shared circulation, designed with apertures on each end. The main living space is subtly divided into six quadrants, consisting of the opening to below, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, and a den. Apertures are located throughout the house to frame the landscape and maximize natural light. Some are large like an enormous tapestry, while others are more modest, blending in with the dweller’s many framed works of art.

The overall massing of the house was unchanged and many existing openings were reused where possible. The exterior was reclad in a stained wood siding, paired with a metal roof. The base of the building was re-parged and important openings received a showbox treatment. A home that easily could have been demolished is given a new chapter by meeting contemporary living standards while feeling modestly at home in its sprawling landscape.

JURY COMMENTS (If applicable)

MEDIA FOR DOWNLOAD
Project PDF

IMAGES (Captions and Photographer Credit)
1. Steven Norris Photography
2. Steven Norris Photography
3. Steven Norris Photography
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