Following our previous visit to California-based Walker Warner, we are moving our Meet Your Next Employer series to Massachusetts this week to explore the work of Murdough Design.

From their studio in Concord, the firm has built a portfolio specializing in residential and small institutional projects. “We merge practical requirements with intangible qualities distinct to each design problem,” the firm says about its design outlook. “Our approach considers relationships between landscape and architecture, space and light, material and form.”

Over on Archinect Jobs, the firm is currently hiring for an Emerging Architect / Designer to join their Concord team. For candidates interested in applying for the position, or anybody interested in learning more about the firm’s output, we have rounded up three rural renovation projects by Murdough Design that exemplify the firm’s ethos.

Reclaimed Barn, Central Harbor, NH

Murdough Design led the restoration and adaptive reuse of an 1800s barn in Central Harbor, NH. Found in a state of ruin, the only salvageable part of the barn was approximately half of the original timber frame.

The exterior of the barn has been clad in reclaimed wood from a variety of sources, while the interior has been converted into a “modern, airy, multi-use space with the same modern aesthetic as the main home on the site, while still respecting its farmland history.” Externally, large glazing on the lower levels and rooftop solar panels modernize the barn’s aesthetic, while internally, the timber structure is exposed and dramatized through multi-height spaces.

Fairhaven Bay, Lincoln, MA

Located in Lincoln, MA, Fairhaven Bay saw the renovation and addition to a 1950s mid-century residence. The project saw an update and expansion of the interior, including an expanded kitchen, a new screened porch, a new entry and restored entry rotunda, and updates to the interior and exterior finishes.

“The design challenge involved editing and synthesizing numerous additions to the original house, which had become increasingly incoherent,” the team explains. “Additionally, the design addresses the existing house's missed opportunities to take full advantage of the site's natural beauty – namely refining the entry approach from the forested driveway on the east and opening the house to views westward of an expansive rolling meadow and of the Sudbury River.”

Renovation on an Estuary, CT

Located on an estuary in coastal Connecticut, the ‘Renovation on an Estuary’ saw a 1978 dwelling overhauled and “taken down to its studs” to allow for updated mechanicals and insulation for an energy-efficient envelope. On the exterior, a “taut, clean, and quiet appearance” is created by a new standing seam, coated aluminum roof, and exterior walls re-clad with Western red cedar planks. Inside, meanwhile, windows were enlarged, walls removed, and living spaces reorganized.

“The architects engaged in a process of editing what was already there; since they couldn't add, they subtracted,” the team explains. “For example, removing storage space in the entry, elongated views through the kitchen. The new Corten steel fireplace is a structural element that enhances the minimalist open-plan construct. Walnut casework adds warmth throughout the house, while the white plaster acts as a crisp backdrop. The palette remains quiet, in an attempt to highlight the landscape beyond.”

Meet Your Next Employer is one of a number of ongoing weekly series showcasing the opportunities available on our industry-leading job board. Our *Job Highlights* series looks at intriguing and topical employment opportunities currently available on Archinect Jobs, while our weekly roundups curate job opportunities by location, career level, and job description.