Small Environments

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50 Small Environments

Small Environments

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Uni Architects, 15 Clifton Street,

Cambridge, Massachusetts

A translucent polycarbonate tunnel between

the renovated house and a new addition joins

the bright lighting and clean surfaces of the

two spaces with its pure, luminous form.  e

transition is kept as open as possible to draw

the fl ow of space and views to the garden at

the rear. At the same time, it creates a solid

separation between an outdoor sitting area

for the house and the entry area for the rear

unit.

Above The open plan of the upper and lower

levels of the house make the space feel more

expansive while the white fi nishes refl ect

light throughout. One side of the house is a

functional block, called the “performative

wall” by the architects, that concentrates the

utilities such as kitchen, bath, and stair. On

the opposing side, indirect light falls from a

skylight through the slotted opening in the

second fl oor. Although the skylight faces

south, the translucent surfaces temper the

direct sunlight, providing protected illumina-

tion of the gallery of drawings and prints on

the wall.

Luminance

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52 Small Environments

Above A typical cross section illustrates the

way that the skylight is incorporated into the

building: On the exterior, corrugated PVC

maintains the texture and form of the Cor-

Ten steel, and on the interior, a polycarbon-

ate panel is set fl ush with the ceiling surface.

 is provides an individual yet inexpensive

alternative to an off -the-shelf skylight prod-

uct. Not shown in the section is the opening

in the joists between the fi rst and second

fl oors, which is located directly below the

skylight.

Above Right A closer view of the slot be-

tween the fi rst and second levels reveals the

wood slats that let light through but retain a

usable and stable fl oor surface. Visually, this

feature appears as a continuation of the fl oor

rather than a gap in it, since the slats register

as a change in texture.

RIDGE

corrugated metal, Cor-Ten

spacer 1” x 2” (25.4 x 50.8 mm)

roll ventilation mat

SKYLIGHT

corrugated PVC

spacer 1” x 2” (25.4 x 50.8 mm)

polycarbonate panel

roll ventilation mat

WALL FLOOR

cork fl oor 12” x 12” (304.8 x

304.8 mm)

subfl oor plywood

3

/4” (19 mm)

wood joists 2” x 10” (50.8 x

254 mm)

spacer 1” x 2” (25.4 mm x

50.8 mm)

drywall

1

/2” (12.7 mm)

EXTERIOR WALL

corrugated metal, Cor-Ten

stainless-steel fastener

ventilation 2” (50.8 mm)

air barrier, Tyvek

exterior plywood

1

/2” (12.7 mm)

thermal ventilation

vapor barrier

spacer 1” x 2” (25.4 x 50.8 mm)

drywall

1

/2” (12.7 mm)

roll ventilation mat

existing brick wall

air fl ow

air fl ow

air fl ow air fl ow

Level 2

Level 1

Basement

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Above  e second-fl oor space continues the

opposition of storage walls and light. From

the street, the building does not present visi-

ble fenestration other than a single traditional

sash window above the door.  is window on

the rear wall mirrors that on the façade but

punctuates a translucent polycarbonate wall.

 e small window provides more ventilation

than light or views. Here, too, the all-white

interior increases the brightness and spa-

ciousness of the room.

Luminance

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54 Small Environments

Elliott + Associates with Michael Hoff ner,

North, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Inspired by the movement of light through

the lens of a view camera, this renovation

explores the diff erent ways to capture the

Great Plains light throughout the day and

throughout the year; it also pays tribute to

the owner’s grandfather, the frontier photog-

rapher North Losey.  e illumination varies

dramatically according to direction, time, and

season to produce an atmosphere that fl ows

from the meditative to the otherworldly.

Light dissolves form, leaving only the fi gure

of the central square column, a former chim-

ney, with its stelalike slate surface.

Opposite Small details trace the historic

context:  roughout the apartment, recessed

spot fi xtures illuminate vintage photographs

on the wall, and a glazed reveal where the

column meets the fl oor gives a glimpse of the

garage below. Monochromatic furnishings

and surfaces off er an abstract, clean backdrop

for the luminous eff ects, while cool, crisp

sandblasted glass panels enclose individual

fi xtures and functions.

Small Environments

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