NEW Private Residence I

Allendale, New Jersey

A young family came to Poskanzer Skott Architects after their home was ravaged by fire with a challenging directive. For the designer the challenge was unique. This particular house was originally designed by Poskanzer Skott Architects 35 years ago. Working with Poskanzer Skott Architects the designer set a new course for this family home with fresh ideas and new eyes to re-think and re-imagine the original design. The new home was not just to be a mere copy of the original. The layout was redesigned and expanded, updated, and large amounts of glass were added to reflect the contemporary life style the clients espoused, while still respecting the cubist language of the original design.

Generous amounts of floor to ceiling glass allow for the natural surroundings to be drawn into the interior of the house. The glass also underscores the abstract impression of solid versus void spaces in the geometry of the composition. The second floor bedrooms are rendered as cubes with punched windows suspended over a gossamer-like black grid. The exterior of the house was rendered in white clapboard siding to draw one’s attention to the black window frames.

The walls of glass are strategically located along the front and rear elevations of the house and are employed as the organizing device for the plan. The main circulation spine of the architecture is defined by a curved glass wall and punctuated at the end with another soaring wall of glass. All of the living spaces flow from that circulation spine and are moved towards the rear of the house to take advantage of the views.