Carriage House
The challenge was to design an authentic Victorian carriage house in a zoning district that doesn’t allow them. And by the way, it should accommodate two cars, several bikes, indoor/outdoor banquets, poker games, exercise equipment, tap dancing, a steamer trunk inspired color-changing bar, a bathroom, reading nook, seasonal storage and a deck.
Carriage House
The challenge was to design an authentic Victorian carriage house in a zoning district that doesn’t allow them. And by the way, it should accommodate two cars, several bikes, indoor/outdoor banquets, poker games, exercise equipment, tap dancing, a steamer trunk inspired color-changing bar, a bathroom, reading nook, seasonal storage and a deck.
We excavated and regraded the site to allow for a two story structure, within zoning laws, and create multi-use spaces on each floor. To maintain authenticity, the form and detail of the new carriage house closely follow the existing home. Archival sleuthing uncovered photos of the former carriage house that was destroyed by arson in the 1980s which influenced the exterior detail and introduced the idea of the hay loft, which serves as the reading nook. The structure itself is entirely hand framed, sheathed and finished using turn-of-the-century building methods. Finish flooring, stair treads, and countertops use recycled wood from buildings of the same era. The spiral stair, storage, bathroom, and banquet tables are built in to the peripheries, keeping the main and second floors as open and flexible as possible.
The first floor now functions as garage, bike storage and indoor/ outdoor entertainment space with serving tables that fold into the walls. The second floor is truly a multi-use space, which functions as a media/ guest room, dance studio/exercise room and bar/poker parlor, with bathroom and seasonal storage tucked into knee wall spaces.
Completed
2008
Team
Shelter, Harem Construction
Accolades
2012 Garden Award, 2008 Residential Design and Build Excellence Award for Detached Structure
