Ten Hills Phase 1, Baltimore, MD
In progress
Client: Private Residence

Program: As accomplished musicians, the owners wished to expand their ordinary 1970's "shoebox" style house into an extraordinary home for concerts and entertaining. In addition to a concert room, enlarged dining room, and library, the owners wished to improve their kitchen and master bedroom suite and add a garage, with a possible second phase to include a swimming pool. The building is located in the historic Ten Hills District..
Design Approach: The steep slope of the back yard made rearward expansion an architectural and structural challenge. Furthermore, as the house is located in the Ten Hills historic district, changes to the publicly visible elevations required approval by the Commission for Historic and Architectural Preservation (CHAP). ArchPlan's solution enhanced the front elevation with the addition of a porch and second-floor gable. Sill heights of the front windows were lowered and a bay window added on the side to provide more daylight to living spaces. A number of the interior walls were removed or lowered to create a spacious feel and a logical flow of circulation. A sizable addition on the rear provided a concert room with a backdrop of tall windows providing a view into the wooded back yard. Above, a small balcony afforded a new vantage point onto the concert room; beneath, a two-car garage worked neatly into the slope. The addition also allowed for the expansion of the master bedroom with ample closet space and a generous bathroom. ArchPlan's design not only satisfied the community's design review panel, but more importantly accommodated the owners' talents, hobbies, and tastes, as well as their desire for close involvement in the design process.
Responsibilities: Schematic design and design development drawings.