ESSENTIALSFirm Name: 1100 Architect Principals: David Piscuskas, Juergen RiehmHeadquarters: New York, NYAccolades: Forbes Architecture\u2019s \u201cAmerica\u2019s Best-in-State Residential Architects,\u201d 2025House Name: House in WellesleyLocation: Wellesley, MassachusettsArea & Layout: 13,961 square feet on .71 acres; 5 BR, 8 BAArchitectural Photographer: Peter Aaron (peteraaron.net)<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a problem that has perplexed architects for the last century: How do you make a modern house fit in a traditional neighborhood? That was the challenge that David Piscuskas and his team from 1100 Architect faced when they were asked to design a contemporary home for a family of four in Wellesley, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe landscape of Wellesley is dotted with white clapboard-clad houses derived from traditional New England forms,\u201d says the New York City\u2013based architect. \u201cWith this house, we took those material principles\u2014making a taut, white, clapboard volume\u2014but expressed them in decidedly contemporary ways.\u201d <\/p>\n
Resembling a pair of interlocking white cubes, the structure strikes a provocative pose on its leafy suburban lot. Piscuskas kept the footprint compact to mirror surrounding houses, but rejected conventional clapboard siding in favor of flush-mounted fir boards held in place with clips. <\/p>\n
\u201cThough it might look different from the neighbors at first glance, we designed it with a profound respect for the material and architectural vernacular of Wellesley,\u201d Piscuskas says. \u201cAnd in that way, it fits into its geographic context, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
The house was built with a steel frame, eliminating the need for interior columns, which enhanced daylight, circulation and sightlines throughout the interior. The driveway loops around the side yard, depositing cars in an underground garage, maintaining unobstructed views of the landscape through the home\u2019s floor\u2013to-ceiling windows. <\/p>\n
The flexible, open-plan layout was designed to adapt to the family\u2019s changing needs (a third child recently joined the brood), with a quartet of family rooms arrayed across its four levels and smaller spaces woven throughout to accommodate more intimate gatherings, abetted by retractable sliding doors. A dramatic floating staircase (a signature of the firm) links the main floors, which are embellished with blue and fuschia accents. The decor offers a colorful contrast to the austere exterior, allowing the house to honor the neighborhood while indulging the whims of its occupants.<\/p>\n
ABOVE: \u201cWhat began as a client\u2019s simple wish to live within a white cube evolved into a house shaped by precision and a sense of calm,\u201d Piscuskas says. \u201cFlush glazing and carefully resolved detailing soften the boundary between architecture and landscape, giving the home a quiet presence in its neighborhood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peter Aaron<\/p>\n
ABOVE: The home\u2019s steel framework permitted unobstructed living and dining spaces on the main floor and a double-height atrium oriented around the two-sided gas fireplace.<\/p>\n
Peter Aaron<\/p>\n
ABOVE: \u201cIn the living room, large windows frame the surrounding landscape as a backdrop to the home\u2019s bold interiors,\u201d says Piscuskas. \u201cThe restrained architectural envelope allows the furnishings, artwork and color palette to become a more expressive part of the space.\u201d Interior design by Ray Booth.<\/p>\n
Peter Aaron<\/p>\n
ABOVE: \u201cThe kitchen was designed around a double island configuration that allows for full circulation and the ability to prepare and serve from all sides. A continuous wall of European walnut cabinetry brings warmth and material contrast to the otherwise light-filled, minimalist interior,\u201d Piscuskas says.<\/p>\n
Peter Aaron<\/p>\n
ABOVE: The family\/media room on the main floor flanks a floating staircase that connects to the bedroom level above. Sliding door panels allow the room to remain open to adjacent living areas, or to be closed off when a quieter, more intimate atmosphere is desired.<\/p>\n
Peter Aaron<\/p>\n
ABOVE: \u201cViewed from the second floor, the cantilevered stair landing becomes both a sculptural architectural element and an informal place to pause,\u201d Piscuskas says. The surrounding glass bay overlooks the basketball court and trees in back.<\/p>\n
Peter Aaron<\/p>\n
ABOVE: \u201cOne of four family rooms in the home, this secondary living area is located on the bedroom level and was designed as a space for bedtime stories with the children,\u201d Piscuskas says. It also offers parents a place to recuperate during the kids\u2019 nap times.<\/p>\n
Peter Aaron<\/p>\n
ABOVE: A rooftop terrace off the third floor includes an outdoor dining area and a gathering space oriented around a gas firepit. \u201cElevated within the canopy of surrounding trees, the terrace gives the feeling of being immersed in the treetops,\u201d Piscuskas observes.<\/p>\n
Peter Aaron<\/p>\n
ABOVE: The driveway culminates in a garage that\u2019s tucked below grade, keeping both the cars and their shelter out of sight.<\/p>\n
Peter Aaron
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