suite above the existing house , allowing it to benefit from the magnificent views . The roof structure of the original house was undersized and would need to be beefed up to bring the house up to code anyway . By demolishing a steep set of concrete stairs and adding a mere 180 square feet to the footprint , I envisioned that the house could be transformed into a grand , 1920s New England craftsman-style cottage with a covered walk-out terrace off the master suite . We saved 80 percent of the existing house structure and stripped the building to the studs so that the new cladding could be built from them . By creating the new upper level with the master suite , master bath and office , and by opening the ground and basement levels to the views , we were able to nearly triple the usable livable space within the house . The owners now love their completely transformed home that looks like it might have been built 100 years ago ( except for the modern conveniences and comforts that the new building enjoys ). For us , transforming an ugly duckling house into a magnificent swan of a home is really the ultimate accomplishment . It is taking something that is broken and fixing it so it can work beautifully and environmentally far into the future .”
BEFORE
FROM THE CLIENT : “ We came across the property for sale while walking our dog on the beach . We immediately loved the setting but knew the home would need substantial renovations . We were fortunate to find A4 Architecture for the project . Our main goals were to preserve the existing footprint and original materials as much as possible to reduce the environmental impact , while modernizing and creating open living spaces that capitalized on the water views . Ross and his team were highly professional , tailored the plans to our aesthetic and helped guide us through every step of the rebuild from conception to completion .”
AFTER
ABOUT THE ARCHITECT : Backed by architecture degrees from Yale , Cambridge and Columbia University , Ross Cann founded A4 Architecture , an award-winning professional architectural firm , in 2004 . The architecture firm specializes in highquality projects in the residential , commercial , hospitality and institutional areas , having completed work across Rhode Island , Massachusetts , Connecticut and New York . Their work ranges from new construction projects to adaptive reuse and restoration of historic structures . ◆
A4 Architecture Inc .,
401-849-5100 , A4arch . com
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