Project Description
The Emerald St. Residence was designed by internationally renowned modernist architects Curtis and Davis in 1952 and represents one of only a handful of single family residences designed by the firm. The residence was published in a 1955 issue of Architectural record as the Dr. Stanley Cohen House, and is a prime example of Curtis and Davis’ trademark adaptation of modernist design principles, forms and structure to local climate, allowing for outdoor-indoor living. The residence was designed with an emphasis on its south façade, composed of sliding glass panels and directly connecting the main rooms of the house to the rear yard as well as patios spanning the length of the home. This façade was shaded via a large mono-pitch roof overhang, with exterior wing walls dividing the patios into public and private spaces. When the residence recently came up for sale however, it was a shadow of its former self. The design of the residence was seriously altered through a renovation and addition performed in the 1990s. Eliminating the design’s iconic overhang and wing walls, the interior footprint of the home was expanded by removing the original south façade and building a new façade at the edge of the roof. This new façade was constructed using standard residential sliding patio doors as opposed to Curtis and Davis’ custom panels, severely altering and in many cases destroying the minimal proportions of the original design. Without the overhang and wing walls the residence was continuously fighting against nature, and required two separate large HVAC units to cool a mere 2,300 square feet. In addition to this, the residence took on heavy water damage from Hurricane Katrina, rotting out almost all of the building’s structure. The current restoration efforts entailed an almost complete rebuilding of the residence. The original slab on grade foundation was elevated, without affecting the siting of the building in its landscape, to help protect from future natural disasters. The residence’s roof, interior partitions, and damaged exterior brick walls were also rebuilt, allowing for a re-introduction of the original design’s iconic overhang and exterior wing-walls. The existing modified interior footprint of the residence was maintained, with a new overhang and wing walls extending past the previously established location of the south façade. A new steel structural system was carefully concealed within the roof to allow for this extension. With the overhang and wing walls restored, the residence is now kept thermally comfortable via a small solar powered HVAC unit. Curtis and Davis’ original intent for the south façade is restored while honoring their firm’s legacy of embracing the most up to date technologies available. The façade is redesigned as a series of full height 9’ x 7’ sliding glass panels entirely disconnected from any columns or walls, allowing complete freedom of movement between interior and exterior. The new detailing of this wall system, as well as throughout the residence, reflects mid-century modernism through a contemporary minimalist lens. The new exterior wing walls are clad in solid walnut planks custom treated with a Weldtex striated pattern originally found on plywood panels on the residence’s exterior and interior. Custom designed millwork throughout the residence is also built in walnut to further connect the interior and exterior experiences. The wing walls divide public and private rear patios. The public patio directly connected to the living room is tiled in a large format French limestone tile that flows continuously from the interior. The interior is fully tiled in the same large format limestone further obfuscating the division between indoor and outdoor. A new pool, hot tub and freshwater pond are directly connected to the patios, with a private garden and bath accessible via the master suite. A repositioning of the master suite to the southwest corner of the residence fulfills the original intended master plan for the site as designed by Curtis and Davis in 1952.