This project won a 2024 Citation of Design from the CNY American Institute of Architects. A repeat client of Taylored Architecture purchased an existing multi-structure property that consisted of a main house, boathouse, carriage house and skiff house. The skiff house was a beautiful historic structure with curved roofs that sat near the shoreline at a low elevation. The skiff house was the last remaining structure of a large historic Victorian compound, the rest of which had burned down many years ago.
The main house had originally been designed by Grater Architects as a guest house for the previous owners. The previous owners then decided to add onto the guest house instead of constructing a larger main house and utilized a different architectural firm. The two connected structures did not flow well and had multiple redundancies. The most glaring issue was that from the main living room one had to look through the boathouse roof and the skiff house roof to see the magnificent view.
The client was compelled to salvage and relocate the skiff house. The structure was rotated 90° and translated 70 feet to the West. In this process it was raised out of the flood plain and provided with a proper foundation. We also added a new screened porch to the Riverside to open the space to the exterior and the views.
Since the original boathouse slip had been excavated from the shoreline we were able to remove the roof and replace it with a deck and railing system to create a generous outdoor space. A Glulam bridge was designed in collaboration with Unalam to connect the main living level of the house with the new boathouse roof deck. We also worked with Shade Sails to design and fabricate a tensioned fabric shade sail.
The interior of the house was completely renovated. A cohesive interior design aesthetic was generated with the consultation of the clients and in collaboration with Taylor + Co. Interiors. We also created pointed reconfigurations of the interior spaces to create a better flow of spaces and accommodate the needs and desires of the new owners.
See the before photo at the bottom of the photo section.
The project was constructed by Valley Maples Construction.
Photography by Revette Studio.