Solit-Garreau Residence by Studio Bower

Solit-Garreau Residence gracefully merges with the original cottage on site, enhancing its charm without overshadowing it. Studio Bower extends the available floor space, drawing inspiration from the cottage’s character and creating a more meaningful connection with the surroundings.

Located in Washington, DC, Solit-Garreau Residence is expanded, fostering improved connections between indoor and outdoor areas. The work aims to preserve the cottage’s existing charm while minimising its impact on the surroundings. Studio Bower explored various approaches and chose to design a home that delicately integrates with the existing site. The new cottage form intentionally maintains a separation from the original structure while still feeling connected and serving as a natural progression from what was previously there. Through glazed elements, key visual sightlines also maintain connections between the interior and exterior spaces.

The integration of indoor and outdoor spaces blurs boundaries, harmonising the home with the landscape and welcoming the ever-changing seasons into the dwelling.

The addition creates a more spacious and flowing living environment, encompassing a kitchen, dining and lounge area. The primary challenge was ensuring the new work felt appropriately scaled yet impactful, achieved by balancing volumes, materials and access while maintaining a sense of openness for natural light to fill the interior. A central outdoor courtyard divides the forms, facilitating clear pathways across the site and increasing airflow through openings, thereby reducing a reliance on artificial lighting during the day. The integration of indoor and outdoor spaces blurs boundaries, harmonising the home with the landscape and welcoming the ever-changing seasons into the dwelling.

Home to creative individuals, the residence offers a sanctuary for the owners to work while ensuring a sense of separation throughout the day. By integrating both outdoor and indoor rooms, a connection is maintained, yet with distinct barriers that delineate functionality. The design also allows for generous space proportions and flexibility in furniture arrangement. Spanning one and a half levels, the new addition incorporates a bedroom and bathroom upstairs, while the ground floor houses expansive living areas that seamlessly extend to the terrace. Drawing on local expertise in traditional woodworking and joinery techniques, the new cottage feels connected through its handmade approach, featuring detailing that elevates everyday living.

Home to creative individuals, the residence offers a sanctuary for the owners to work while ensuring a sense of separation throughout the day.

The once-modest cottage of Solit-Garreau Residence undergoes a transformation with the addition of a separate cottage form. Studio Bower enhances and expands the existing home while introducing contemporary elements alongside traditional features, ultimately grounding and opening up the space.

Architecture by Studio Bower. Build by Carl Petty Associates.