Mondrian steel patio doors were used on the rear of this property, the slim metal framing were used to maximise glass to this patio door, maintaining the industrial look while allowing maximum light to pass through. The minimal steel section finished in white supported the structural glass roof allowing light to ingress through the room.

Detailed view of the restored turret's vent + original slate shingles

If quality is a necessity, comfort impresses and style excites you, then JACK offers the epitome of modern luxury living. The combination of singularly skilled architects, contemporary interior designers and quality builders will come together to create this elegant collection of superior inner city townhouses.

Will Pryce

The owners of the property had slowly refurbished their home in phases.We were asked to look at the basement/lower ground layout with the intention of creating a open plan kitchen/dining area and an informal family area that was semi- connected. They needed more space and flexibility. To achieve this the side return was filled and we extended into the garden. We removed internal partitions to allow a visual connection from front to back of the building. Alex Maguire Photography

At this front exterior, I had to burn all external coating from the ladders due to paint failure. New paint and coating were applied by brush and roll in the white gloss system.

David Barbour Photography

Pippa Wilson Photography Exterior shot of a double storey loft extension and single storey apex roof extension, looking through the open bi-fold doors into a light and airy modern family kitchen / diner.

Photo by Hixson Studio

Foto: Michael Voit, Nußdorf

A new treatment for the front boundary wall marks the beginning of an itinerary through the house punctuated by a sequence of interventions that albeit modest, have an impact greater than their scope. The pairing of corten steel and teak slats is used for the design of the bespoke bike storage incorporating the entrance gate and bespoke planters to revive the monotonous streetscape.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values.

Rear kitchen extension with crittal style windows

Calum Campbell

This project consisted of a renovation and alteration of a Queen Anne home designed and built in 1897 by Manhattan Architect, and former Weehawken mayor, Emile W. Grauert. While most of the windows were Integrity® Wood-Ultrex® replacement windows in the original openings, there were a few opportunities for enlargement and modernization. The original punched openings at the curved parlor were replaced with new, enlarged wood patio doors from Integrity. In the mayor's office, the original upper sashes of the stained glass was retained and new Integrity Casement Windows were installed inside for improved thermal and weather performance. Also, a new sliding glass unit and transom were installed to create a seamless interior to exterior transition between the kitchen and new deck at the rear of the property. Finally, clad sliding patio doors and gliding windows transformed a previously dark basement into an airy entertainment space.

Duke Street exterior