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Ho-Ho-Kus Residence
Existing Conditions
This Tudor Cottage was built in the early 20th Century in a Historic
district in Ho-Ho-Kus. The area is well known for its collection
of Tudor homes of distinctive style and variation. The original
residence was L-shaped and 46 feet wide by 22 feet deep, 16 feet
at the narrower end (760 square feet total).
It consisted of a small Entry Foyer leading
to a large Living Room with an attached enclosed Porch to the left,
and a Dining Room with a Kitchen behind it to the right. A staircase
separated these spaces which led to a smaller second floor housing
a large Bedroom over the Living Room and two small Bedrooms over
the Dining and Kitchen areas. One small Bathroom on the second floor
served the entire residence.
This house is published in "Authentic Small Houses
of the Twenties" and is identified as "A Six-Room Stucco
Cottage". Variation from the published plan included a charming
oversized Screen Porch behind the Living Room, and an additional
bathroom on the second floor. The post and beam construction style
and bluestone surface of the Screen Porch added significant character
to the overall appearance of the residence.
Classic Tudor features that gave this
home its charm included sweeping curved roof lines, the combination
of hammered clapboard and stucco for siding, and the steel framed
casement windows, which can be found in many of the neighboring
homes in the area. A detached Garage was also located on the site
built to match the character of the original residence. The residence
is situated on a quarter acre lot about 86 feet wide and 125 feet
deep.
The Program
Gary Irwin Architects was contracted to expand and upgrade the residence
to include a Family Room with cathedral ceilings and a fireplace,
a larger Kitchen, a 1st Floor Powder Room, two new Bathrooms on
the 2nd floor, attic access, a full basement, additional storage
area, and Variance Approvals.
The Design - 1997:
A rear extension between the Screen Porch and the Detached Garage
was designed. The extension of existing roof planes permitted a
seamless connection between the existing and new construction complementing
the character of the residence. Clapboard siding details were matched
as well as the textured stucco finish.
Perhaps the most important detail would be the restoration of the
original steel casement windows, which were a trademark of the residences
in this area. Gary Irwin Architects introduced the Client to a well
known and respected restorer of steel casement windows who's list
of accomplishments includes the restoration of the windows in Falling
Water, the famous residence designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. In addition,
all of the new construction used authentic steel casement windows
that had been removed from similar residences over the years. These
windows and french doors were salvaged and restored and planned
into the new construction.
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On the 1st floor, the addition consisted of a Kitchen extension
leading to a Family Room nestled between the Screen Porch and the
Garage. This required the primary residence to be connected to the
garage. Variances were required. A communicating Hall connecting
the Family Room to the Living Room and serving a Powder Room was
also added which created a circular flow through the residence.
Three pairs of steel casement windows with circle heads were incorporated
into for the rear all of the Family Room, and three 42" wide
steel french doors were located throughout the first floor. As the
steel window frame construction was significantly narrower than
the wall thickness, and extension jambs were not common in the early
20th century, the original interior wall construction included a
plaster wall finish that had a radial return to the window frame.
No trim was provided. This detail was incorporated throughout the
new construction and the craftsmanship obtained was exceptional.
It contributes to the success of the blend between new construction
and original construction, which is seamless.
The cathedral Family Room was designed with a balcony on one end
serving as a communicating hall on the second floor. Beneath the
balcony is a custom made entertainment cabinet running the full
length of the room. The iron railing on the balcony, as well as
the iron chandelier further complement the Tudor design of the residence.
One bedroom in the rear of the second floor was shifted back over
the Kitchen extension below so a bathroom could be inserted between
the front and rear Bedrooms. The two existing baths were replaced
with one large Master Bath. The second floor hall was enlarged so
a spiral stair could added to provide access to the attic.
Variances:
Documents were prepared for variances on side yard setbacks, lot
coverage, and the connection of a primary structures to an accessory
structure. Connecting the Garage, which was an accessory structure,
to the Primary Structure classified the Garage as part of the Primary
Structure, which is subject to different property line setback regulations.
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