Swell House
Single Family House
Highland Park, New Jersey

The swell house celebrates forms created from the combination of old and new, resisting American suburban trends. The clients needed to accommodate a growing family and a decision was made to build a new second floor on the old house. Wrapping the old and new spaces with clapboard, flexible yet rigid in appearance, the parts meld into a whole-the new curves supported by the older straight lines. Adding to the house also kept demolition to a minimum. In long-term efforts to reduce waist, the windows are carefully placed to minimize energy consumption and a double skin maintains the indoor temperature by natural ventilation between the two skins in summer or adding insulation in the winter time.

Architectural Record, "Best Unbuilt House" 
Winner, 2008