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Back Bay Townhouse Renovation

Boston, MA

Exterior of a Back Bay brownstone townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing ther o traditional facade with the main entry doopen and a glimpse of the curved stair inside.

A NEW CHAPTER FOR A HISTORIC BACK BAY BROWNSTONE

The owner’s goals for the project were ambitions - transform a late-1800s Back Bay brownstone previously operating as student housing into a single-family home with grand spaces for dinner parties and fundraising events, while also providing quiet retreat in the way of bedrooms and home offices along the busy thoroughfare of Commonwealth Avenue. The design challenge, taken on by RUHL | JAHNES Architects and A+SL Studios, was one part restoration and one part reinvention.

Modern entry hall with marble floors and curved stair.

ACCESSIBLE LIVING AS A DESIGN ASSET

The existing townhome was completely reconfigured, and each of the home’s six floors were designed to accommodate the unique needs of the homeowners. The visual and functional backbone of the project is a glass elevator that connects five of the townhome’s floors. Aesthetically, the glass elevator’s modern visual lightness compliments and defers attention to the rich character of the historic stair wrapped around it. Functionally, the elevator enables aging in place by connecting the lower entertaining floors and upper bedroom floors while still maintaining visual connection to adjacent living spaces.

Modern curved stair with glass elevator.
Glass elevator rising up through the historic stair of the home.

REFINED SPACES GIVE WAY TO FAMILY COMFORT

Guests are greeted on the lower level by a sculptural curved stair that leads up to lovingly restored ‘piano nobile’ entertaining spaces with thirteen-foot-high ceilings and a dedicated service kitchen for large gatherings. Up one more level, the family enjoys a large modern kitchen open to a generously sized family room with a striking polished coffered ceiling.

Restored historic living room for entertaining.
Modern kitchen and glass elevator open towards the family room.

Moving further up in the home, bedrooms and home offices enjoy additional separation from the busy street below. Built-in cabinetry on the bedroom levels provide integrated, functional storage with seamless modern aesthetics. The capstone of the home is a roof deck accessed through large bi-folding doors with breathtaking views of the Boston skyline.

Bedroom level landing with modern bench nook and built-in storage.
Large modern bi-fold doors open to a roof deck with city views.
Modern primary bedroom with built-in storage.

MODERN CONVENIENCE IN THE HEART OF THE CITY

For these homeowners, urban living did not necessitate sacrificing convenience - a four-car parking garage was constructed in the rear of the townhome. Limited by allowable building height, car lifts were installed to double the functionality of the existing two car garage footprint by lowering vehicles below ground. The car lifts and supporting garage structure were engineered to carry the immense weight of modern electric vehicles.

New garage with car lifts for access to hidden subterranean parking.
View Houses  

Services

Houses, renovation, restoration, townhomes

Completion

2023

Design Architect

Will Ruhl, FAIA
Hillary Mateev, AIA
Kevin Marblestone, AIA
Taehoon Lee, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Andrew Kotleski, AIA

Project Architect

Anne Snelling-Lee, NCARB, LEED AP
A+SL Studios

General Contractor

Sea-Dar Construction

Interior Design

Manuel de Santaren

Structural Engineer

Siegel Associates

Photography

© Nat Rea

All Images

Traditional front facade of a Back Bay brownstone townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the clay-toned exterior along Commonwealth Avenue at dusk with interior lights glowing through the windows.
Exterior of a Back Bay brownstone townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing ther o traditional facade with the main entry doopen and a glimpse of the curved stair inside.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the ground level entry with a sculptural curved stair, white marble flooring with contrasting black tile accents, and a glass elevator beyond.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing a long view of the street-level lower gallery with white marble flooring and geometric black tile paths.
Interior detail of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the base of the curved stair railing with a sculptural handrail and embedded uplighting.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the glass elevator at ground level with black structural framing, black accent floor tiles, and built-in wall storage.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing an upward view of the glass elevator rising through the curved stairwell toward a bright skylight above.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the glass elevator ascending through a sunlit stairway from a herringbone wood landing.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the glass elevator framed by Greek-inspired columns with pendant-lit stairs and a dark wood landing beyond.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing a long view of an art gallery landing flanked by the traditional stair and glass elevator, looking toward the formal dining room beyond.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the elevator landing with dark wood flooring and a refined gallery corridor looking toward the sunlit living room.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the formal dining room with an ornate ceiling and chandelier, viewed through a large door opening.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the living room with a bay window, gold-accented stone fireplace, sophisticated furnishings, and an ornate ceiling with a chandelier.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing a marble kitchen island with a waterfall edge on a herringbone wood landing with the family room beyond.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the marble kitchen island with counter seating on herringbone blonde wood flooring.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the family room with a striking dark wood coffered ceiling, ornate fireplace, and bay window seating.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing an artistic downward view of the glass elevator with the curved stair railing spiraling around it through multiple levels.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing an elevator landing with a built-in alcove bench upholstered in red-toned striped fabric and a sunlit stairway beyond.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing a bedroom with a central bay window and modern full-height white built-in millwork storage.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing a primary bathroom with a freestanding tub set between marble walls, illuminated by a skylight above.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing a bathroom with reflective grey marble walls, a double vanity, and a freestanding tub lit by a skylight.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing a glass shower enclosure surrounded by modern grayscale mosaic tile.
Interior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing a sun-filled living space with bi-fold doors open to the rooftop terrace.
Exterior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the rooftop terrace at dusk with a skylight and the Boston skyline beyond.
Exterior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the rear brick garage with the door open and a car on the underground lift at dusk.
Exterior of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes, showing the rear brick garage with the door closed at dusk, with hedges above and downlights illuminating the entrance.
First floor plan of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes.
Second floor plan of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes.
Third floor plan of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes.
Fourth floor plan of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes.
Fifth floor plan of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes.
Sixth floor plan of a Back Bay townhouse in Boston, MA, designed by Ruhl Jahnes.