South Park House
South Park House Form/Space/Surface
Interlocking cuboids of space forming interior volumes, exterior surface projections, and material finishes. 2D cuboids transformed to library cabinetry and casework, front door and carpets. A superimposition of monochrome planes and contrasting lines. Stainless steel emphasizes the Cartesian as an independent yet related system of receding and projecting cubes. Vertical, flush, cedar siding planes and stainless steel lines assert a “painterly realism” counterpoised to the static, symmetry of the existing exterior. A reciprocal rhythmic coherence of geometry forms a ‘field condition’ - a system of multiple interior organizations of personal and social spaces, of surface space to deep space.
The City [of Shaker Heights]
Shaker Village, once a farmland landscape, began to be successfully developed in 1905 by the Van Sweringen brothers in accordance with the “Garden Cities Movement.” The Van Sweringens aimed to create the largest and wealthiest real estate subdivision in the United States, known today as Shaker Heights, described as the “highest quality of life…designed into the community.”*1 The streets were planned as curved and elliptical, lined with green spaces and following the natural contours and strategically designed for convenient access to transportation. *1Patricia Forgac, Shaker Village Colors.
a*
The Site
The property is sited between two of the most prominent streets in Shaker Heights, South Park Blvd. and Shaker Blvd.[4houses from the Van Sweringen’s Tudor estate].
The House [original]
Designed in one of the five architectural styles legislated by the Van Sweringens, South Park House (circa 1917) was constructed as a 3 story English manor house with distinctive 2 story bay windows, brick chimneys, vaulted roof windows, and a central portico.
The Architecture [the new]
South Park House required substantial renovation and comprehensive restoration for high efficiency heating/cooling, structural repairs and the removal of accumulated incongruous additions. A traditional bay window was replaced by a 24” projection enclosing renovated 1st floor library, 2nd floor bathroom + workout space. Other renovation includes, kitchen, guest bath, central hall/stair, the 2nd floor master baths/dressing rooms and the addition an elevator.
Common Sense Removed wood cabinets, wrought iron stanchions and granite counter top were recycled. VOC free paint was used throughout the project. A locally harvested walnut tree was processed for shelving + wall paneling/cabinetry. Water-efficient WCs are installed. The new kitchen utilizes all indirect energy-efficient LEDs.
The program 1st floor - Library, Front entry doors, kitchen, elevator (basement to 2nd fl) 2nd floor - Her Bath + His Bath, Workout, Her Closet, Carpet pattern, paint, lighting 3rd floor - Sauna Exterior - Comprehensive restoration/replacement – wall shingles, windows, custom gutter details, brick chimneys, and roof shingles b* a* Untitled The Cry, Barnett Newman b* Untitled #1,Barnett Newman
Interlocking cuboids of space forming interior volumes, exterior surface projections, and material finishes. 2D cuboids transformed to library cabinetry and casework, front door and carpets. A superimposition of monochrome planes and contrasting lines. Stainless steel emphasizes the Cartesian as an independent yet related system of receding and projecting cubes. Vertical, flush, cedar siding planes and stainless steel lines assert a “painterly realism” counterpoised to the static, symmetry of the existing exterior. A reciprocal rhythmic coherence of geometry forms a ‘field condition’ - a system of multiple interior organizations of personal and social spaces, of surface space to deep space.
The City [of Shaker Heights]
Shaker Village, once a farmland landscape, began to be successfully developed in 1905 by the Van Sweringen brothers in accordance with the “Garden Cities Movement.” The Van Sweringens aimed to create the largest and wealthiest real estate subdivision in the United States, known today as Shaker Heights, described as the “highest quality of life…designed into the community.”*1 The streets were planned as curved and elliptical, lined with green spaces and following the natural contours and strategically designed for convenient access to transportation. *1Patricia Forgac, Shaker Village Colors.
a*
The Site
The property is sited between two of the most prominent streets in Shaker Heights, South Park Blvd. and Shaker Blvd.[4houses from the Van Sweringen’s Tudor estate].
The House [original]
Designed in one of the five architectural styles legislated by the Van Sweringens, South Park House (circa 1917) was constructed as a 3 story English manor house with distinctive 2 story bay windows, brick chimneys, vaulted roof windows, and a central portico.
The Architecture [the new]
South Park House required substantial renovation and comprehensive restoration for high efficiency heating/cooling, structural repairs and the removal of accumulated incongruous additions. A traditional bay window was replaced by a 24” projection enclosing renovated 1st floor library, 2nd floor bathroom + workout space. Other renovation includes, kitchen, guest bath, central hall/stair, the 2nd floor master baths/dressing rooms and the addition an elevator.
Common Sense Removed wood cabinets, wrought iron stanchions and granite counter top were recycled. VOC free paint was used throughout the project. A locally harvested walnut tree was processed for shelving + wall paneling/cabinetry. Water-efficient WCs are installed. The new kitchen utilizes all indirect energy-efficient LEDs.
The program 1st floor - Library, Front entry doors, kitchen, elevator (basement to 2nd fl) 2nd floor - Her Bath + His Bath, Workout, Her Closet, Carpet pattern, paint, lighting 3rd floor - Sauna Exterior - Comprehensive restoration/replacement – wall shingles, windows, custom gutter details, brick chimneys, and roof shingles b* a* Untitled The Cry, Barnett Newman b* Untitled #1,Barnett Newman
