Owners of a house near Sperryville, VA wanted the house to be expanded and remodeled or replaced. The owners recognized the need for additional space when all family members gathered together. NSA was asked to develop an option for adding to and/or reorganizing the interior spaces of the existing house, and to develop an option for new construction to replace the existing structure.
The existing house, sited close to a wooded hillside, consists of two parts. The first part consists of a single story with a finished attic under a gambrel roof with a living area and attic-like sleeping space. The second part of the existing house is an addition of masonry construction and contains a large kitchen, a bedroom, a utility room and a covered porch.
In the add-on/reorganized scheme, the living room remains in place but shares the floor with a new dining area and the second part receives a second story containing bedrooms and bathrooms. The living and dining areas are left open to one another and connected with two small stairs. A new staircase to the second floor with skylights above its landing is provided in the former kitchen space, and the new eat-in kitchen is repositioned to accommodate the stairs. On the upper level of the first part, the former sleeping space under the gambrel roof is divided into two bedrooms. The corridor connecting all second-floor spaces will have large windows for natural light and view, and a sliding door onto a balcony deck. The site immediately surrounding the house will be regraded for improved drainage away from the house.
In the new construction scheme, the existing house will be razed and the new structure built on the same site. The configuration is long and narrow, to fit the existing topography with public spaces open to one another along the view side. Interior spaces on both floors are arranged off connecting corridors. First floor spaces are arranged study, living area, stairs, kitchen/dining and bedroom with bathroom. One entry comes into the study from the end of the house, and a second comes into the living area from the side. Second floor spaces are arranged as bedroom with bathroom and walk-in closet, common bathroom, stairs and bedroom/bunk room.