Inside this 19th century brick townhouse, the ground floor kitchen is embedded in the side of Beacon Hill. During a recent renovation the architect opened up this cave-like interior, removing the wall between kitchen & garden, replacing it with folding glass doors. This new transparency directs the focus of the deep interior space out to the sunlit exterior of the walled garden. The garden is a private room open to the sky and emphasizes the vertical extension of space by bringing the elemental effects of the sky down within its walls. The south facing party wall is supported by a retaining seat-wall with a granite veneer that extends across the ground, creating a large reflective surface which illuminates the garden. From inside the kitchen looking out, the movement of sunlight and shadow, the actions of wind and precipitation, and the changing seasons register on the walls, ground, and plants making the mood of the sky above apparent to the viewer. At times, these occurring effects within the garden cause the enclosing walls to disappear.
In collaboration with:
Stern McCafferty Architecture + Interiors
Marc Truant & Assoc.
The Coppiinger Company, Inc.