This is a very timely article about a home built in Five Points specifically designed to stay within the current streetscape and scale of the neighborhood. This is a HOT topic in Raleigh...non-profit groups are rallying behind their respective sides (private property rights vs. neighborhood conservation) and the city council is being faced with a challenging decision. If people would concentrate on better design and use of space, like they talk about here, I think both sides would win!
Built to scale
A small bungalow turns into a roomy modern home without overwhelming its space
By Michael Wagner, Correspondent
Robert and Jennifer Barker were looking for lots of space when they bought a 1,000-square-foot bungalow in Raleigh's Five Points. But rather than tear it down and erect another cookie-cutter design, they chose to renovate and build an addition -- satisfying both their need for more room and their respect for this historic neighborhood.
Raleigh architects Brett Hautop and Chad Parker of Vernacular Studio created a spacious home that belies its quiet, streetside presence. Building off the original shotgun style bungalow, built in 1930, the house retains its original street profile with its traditional gabled roof. What's entirely new is the flat-roofed, two-story, 2,400-square-foot addition in back and the entry court that joins the two volumes into a single home.
The result is a house that is entirely modern in its aesthetic yet fits seamlessly into its surroundings. It is a powerful statement about the value of retaining the characteristics that make this neighborhood special while enjoying the benefits of contemporary living.
The house sits in the heart of Raleigh's teardown district, a swath in which developers are razing older structures and replacing them with homes three, four and even five times their size.
Read More at: http://www.newsobserver.com/371/story/960877.html
