- Area: 625 m²
- Year: 2010
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Photographs:Mike Sinclair
Text description provided by the architects. Leawood, Kansas, is a typical mid-ring suburb characterized by modest, well-built homes, a leafy hardwood tree canopy and good public schools that make it an attractive location for young families. Current trends (economic downturn notwithstanding) lean towards tearing down existing homes (arguably historical, with most homes in this part of Leawood having been built in the early 1940’s) and maximizing new designs to allowable build lines and volumes.
The Tylers challenged us to add a playroom, a bedroom and storage to their existing home without modifying the volume and footprint. We identified two locations where space could be better utilized – unused space above the garage and a small, north end attic adjacent to an existing children’s bedroom. Maintaining the overall form and character of the existing house was required by local architectural review board regulations. Ironic. More importantly, the regulations became a useful constraint in developing a complimentary contemporary aesthetic of expansive glazing and subtle detailing.
