Juxtaposition

What happens when one spouse wants an historic neighborhood, but the other architect-spouse wants a modern house? When the couple returned to Atlanta to build their forever home, they found a 100-year-old Neel Reid house in the Frederick Law Olmsted designed Druid Hills that was architecturally significant but needed a complete restoration due to years of neglect. The couple agreed to renovate the house for aging in place, add modern additions—a reflection pavilion for use as a flexible space, a pool, and a garage—and create constant connection to the landscape.

The challenge was to restore the historic house, design modern additions and create harmonious coexistence between old and new. Relating to Reid’s playful design of exploring symmetry within asymmetry, juxtaposition of old and new architecture was examined throughout the project.

To create contrast with the existing American Georgian house, a glass pavilion surrounded by a pool was built at the highest point in the rear yard. The pavilion with a zinc roof supported by four steel columns appears to float on water, whereas the house feels deeply anchored to the ground with its clapboard walls and slate roof. Large openings on the rear façade of the house create a connection to the pavilion. Slate used for the additions echoes the slate roof of the house. In the interiors, constant juxtaposition can be seen in a modern detail or materials introduced in a restored space, or a new pavilion or existing house seen from respective places.
Designed for well-being, constant connection to place and nature was emphasized. While maintaining the original house’s well-proportioned footprint, new openings were added to the rear facade and interiors were redesigned for modern living. The new openings of the existing house create constant connection to the pavilion, pool, and landscape. The pavilion and surrounding pool further emphasize the connection to place and nature with its open plan and glass facade. The infinity edge pool provides visual calmness and tranquil sound creating a meditative environment.

To accommodate aging in place, the rear service stairs were replaced with an elevator and a glass bridge providing additional light from the large window above—a place where historic modern elements are juxtaposed.

Several strategies were implemented to design for water. To reduce runoff from the site, an existing driveway in the rear yard, multiple parking pads and accessory buildings were removed and returned to green space reducing impervious surface by over 2,500 sf. Moreover, a green roof was selected for the garage to further reduce runoff. Native Muhly grass was chosen for the green roof for lack of need for irrigation while creating visual interest. Additional native trees and plants were planted to further aid water management. To reduce outdoor water use, rainwater from the slate roof is captured in the underground rainwater collection tanks and used for irrigation. Rainwater captured from the pavilion roof is used to refill the pool.