This residence was designed to be a contemporary insertion sensitive to the scale and rhythms of its established neighborhood. A predecessor garage structure dating from the 1970's was removed and replaced with the new 2 story, 2 bedroom residence. 

North Central is a residential neighborhood comprised of one and two story residences dating chiefly from the 1940's to 1950's. Located between the Wagener Terrace and Morrison Drive commercial district, it is currently undergoing significant redevelopment pressure. 

The intent was to design a residence that would be comfortable for a family in the new Charleston while being sympathetic to the scale and context of the neighborhood. At ~19' from grade to the eaves and a low sloped roof, the height was set to fit in with the existing homes on the street, being significantly shorter than several of the established homes on the block. The total conditioned area of the home is 1,250sf, which is smaller than many of the residences in the neighborhood. 

The principal masses of the house are wrapped with clapboard siding of historically appropriate thickness. The mitered corner detail emphasizes horizontality, in part intended to diminish the perceived scale of the residence. A prominent trim band, which also serves as the second floor window sill, serves as another strong horizontal break line, and the walls become thinner from the sill up to the soffit. 

The main entry mass is fitted with a vertical siding similar to traditional board and batten, though with a more tailored finish. The "boards" are proud of the "battens". The side porches are inspired by, but not intended to imitate, the piazzas of the Charleston single house typology. Columns and rails are simple steel pipe, galvanized and then painted for durability. High quality windows with appropriate sight lines and construction were specified. Paint colors are intentionally muted and to provide an appropriately subtle level of contrast. 

The intent is for this to be a quiet building. It takes its place in the streetscape without calling excessive attention to itself, while still intending to be a building of its time. It is not imitative of a particular style or historic typology, which we believed would have done a disservice to this site. and neighborhood. 

Tyler A. Smyth, Architect