Boston architecture studio OverUnder has renovated a heritage-listed Victorian home, extending the property to the rear and updating the interiors with a contemporary and minimalist palette.
The property is located in Boston's South End, a neighbourhood characterised by its Victorian and Italianate architectural influences.
The three-unit property was renovated into a single-family home
The building's exterior appearance falls under the protection of the South End Landmark District Commission (SELDC).
The challenge for OverUnder was to conduct a complete renovation of what was previously a three-unit home into a new single-family residence, without compromising the exterior appearance of the building.
OverUnder demolished the interior of the home and redesigned it from scratch "The interior of the house was completely demolished down to the side brick walls, the front fac?ade and the roof," said the team.
"As the design team had decided to remove all of the interiors and the rear wall, they had a blank slate with which to work."
A blackened steel staircase connects the upper levels
As the demolition work progressed, the team discovered that the party walls did not have the anticipated bearing capacity that would be needed for the new layout.
They remedied this issue by creating ring beams ? horizontal structural elements bolted to the demising walls at every storey ? to support the new floors.
Access to the basement is via a wood-lined stairway
"The...