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Huron Village House

Cambridge, MA

Exterior front facade of a renovated three-story Cambridge home at dusk, featuring dark gray shingle siding, ipe-clad entry vestibule, upper balcony with steel railing, and warm interior lighting visible through multi-pane windows

GROWING FAMILY EQUATES TO GROWING SPACE NEEDS

A short while after we were hired to study renovations to their South End condo, this young family pivoted and decided to instead undertake the renovation of a Cambridge fixer-upper. Situated in the lovely Huron Village neighborhood, the property previously served both as a residence and as a local preschool – full of quirky spaces, but loaded with potential.

REUNIFYING THE PLAN FOR OPEN CONCEPT LIVING

A reconfiguration of the layout to turn the property into a single-family home involved removing duplicate staircases, entrances, and kitchens, all in a broad attempt to reunify key spaces. The Owners wished to create an open floor plan on the ground floor, so we designed a bright and airy Kitchen plus breakfast area open to a rift-sawn oak-lined Family Room. Both of these warm modern spaces have a connection to the private backyard via a large wall of floor to ceiling glass. Formal Living Room, Dining Room and Powder Room round out the first floor.

TRANQUILITY AND RETREAT

The upper floors of the home are accessed via a modern, straight-run stair with custom steel and oak capped handrails. The second floor reveals two children’s Bedrooms, a Study Nook, Bathroom, Laundry and a Primary Suite. The Primary Suite is situated at the quiet rear of the home and includes its own tranquil marble-lined bathroom with soaking tub and enlarged shower. The bedroom features a modern cube-like and sun-filled projection over the back yard, perfect for a reading nook. The third floor of the home houses a guest bedroom and two skylighted home offices, perfect for escaping the activity of the home for focus and retreat.

Open-plan living and kitchen area with white handleless cabinetry, marble island with wood bar stools, cream sectional sofa, oak media wall with built-in storage, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a rear garden balcony
Kitchen and informal dining nook with white flat-front cabinetry, marble island, oak staircase with black steel barrister railing, built-in window seat banquette, Saarinen tulip table, and pendant lighting
Close-up detail of a shou sugi ban clad addition cantilevered over a warm ipe soffit, with rainwater cascading from an architectural scupper against a dramatic cloudy sky
Serene primary bedroom with linen upholstered bed, corner wraparound windows overlooking tree canopy, light oak floors, reading chair with ottoman, and gold-framed line drawing artwork

MODERN INSERTIONS BRING FUNCTION AND JOYFUL DIALOGUE TO HISTORIC EXTERIOR

The design for the exterior of the home embraces the traditional detailing, but opts for a sophisticated gray color. Modern insertions meet important functional needs and include an Ipe front porch with roof deck, and a rear porch protected by the cube-shaped bedroom addition above. The result is a playful interplay between the historic Cambridge home and its modern insertions – all providing a warm modern environment for the young family to call home.

Rear exterior of renovated home at dusk showing elevated wood deck with steel cable railing, dark shingle siding, warm ipe soffit overhead, and illuminated open-plan living and kitchen visible through large sliding glass doors
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Services

Houses, renovation, addition

Completion

2023

Architectural Team

Sandra A. Jahnes, AIA, LEED AP
William T. Ruhl, FAIA
Max Giodense, AIA
Andrew Kotleski, AIA
Aticha Siriphand
Cheyenne Vandevoorde
Patrick Weber

General Contractor

Benjamin Construction

Structural Engineer

RSE Associates

Photography

© Nat Rea

All Images

Exterior front facade of a renovated three-story Cambridge home at dusk, featuring dark gray shingle siding, ipe-clad entry vestibule, upper balcony with steel railing, and warm interior lighting visible through multi-pane windows
Street-level view of the home's warm modern entry featuring a natural wood front door, ipe vertical siding surround, wood steps with steel railing, upper balcony, and gray shingle facade framed by mature trees
Mudroom entryway with built-in white oak storage cabinetry, open cubby with hooks and bench, natural wood front door, light oak hardwood floors, and patterned area rug
Open-plan living and kitchen area with white handleless cabinetry, marble island with wood bar stools, cream sectional sofa, oak media wall with built-in storage, and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors opening to a rear garden balcony
Living room with floor-to-ceiling white oak media wall, integrated TV, flanking built-in cabinetry and shelving, woven lounge chairs, oval tiered coffee table, and blue botanical artwork
Kitchen and informal dining nook with white flat-front cabinetry, marble island, oak staircase with black steel barrister railing, built-in window seat banquette, Saarinen tulip table, and pendant lighting
Minimalist all-white kitchen with handleless flat-front cabinetry, large waterfall island with wood base, three white bar stools, horizontal window above sink, ceiling-mounted range hood, and wall oven column
Serene primary bedroom with linen upholstered bed, corner wraparound windows overlooking tree canopy, light oak floors, reading chair with ottoman, and gold-framed line drawing artwork
Secondary bedroom with full-height white panel wall concealing storage, lavender bedding, wicker side chair, sculptural bronze bust on window ledge, and large dome pendant light fixture
Primary bathroom with freestanding white soaking tub, full-height white marble tile walls, recessed niche, dark slate floor tile, wood-front floating vanity, and wall-mounted faucet
Upper hallway landing with sloped ceiling, skylight, oak stair treads with black steel baluster railing, white oak built-in cabinetry with marble countertop, and light oak hardwood flooring
Sun-filled home office under a vaulted ceiling with skylight, light oak desk and chair, built-in white storage cabinets, double-hung windows with garden views, and light hardwood floors
Aerial view of a renovated Cambridge home showing dark gray shingle roof, cantilevered modern addition with dark board-formed siding, elevated rear deck, large glazed openings, and mature tree canopy
Rear exterior of a modern home addition with dark vertical wood cladding, dramatic floor-to-ceiling corner windows, elevated wood deck with cable railing, steel stair, and lush backyard lawn
Close-up detail of a shou sugi ban clad addition cantilevered over a warm ipe soffit, with rainwater cascading from an architectural scupper against a dramatic cloudy sky
Rear exterior of renovated home at dusk showing elevated wood deck with steel cable railing, dark shingle siding, warm ipe soffit overhead, and illuminated open-plan living and kitchen visible through large sliding glass doors
Architectural drawn floor plan showing the layout of rooms on the first floor.
Architectural drawn floor plan showing the layout of rooms on the second floor.
Architectural drawn floor plan showing the layout of rooms on the third floor.