Patrick Ahearn Architect

Feb 2013

This newly constructed stone and swirl sided home is nestled in a tall grove of evergreens, in a nearby suburb of Boston. The H shaped pattern of the home creates both an entry arrival court and a rear private outdoor series of spaces, including porches, terraces and family gathering areas. All of which never hints at the full scale of the home. This pattern language allows the house to feel intimate, and charming, in a romantic way. The tall stone chimneys flanking the main facade at the entry court reinforce and celebrate the symmetrical nature of the design, while maintaining a cottage scale overall height of twenty six feet for the home. One of the primary objectives of the design of the home was to celebrate the spectacular site. The house was designed for indoor / outdoor living and in doing so allows one to flow through the house in multiple areas. The entry foyer establishes a spine in which one is drawn to the rear courtyard, without having to travel through another primary living space. Likewise, the perpendicular axis and circulation galleries provide a clear delineation of the primary spaces which then unfold off this spine. The north gallery resolves itself at a dramatic paneled library and at the terminus of the south gallery the kitchen and family room unfold. In a similar manner, the second floor galleries define a strong circulation pattern that allows one to navigate the house through two major stairways, of which the primary stairwell is capped by a series of major copper skylights at the entry foyer. In addition, the lawn level (garden level) opens out to a hidden garden with a fire pit and seating area directly outside of a major stonewalled wine tasting dining area. These innovations in living patterns of the house recall and emulate the Grand Country Houses of the past century yet provide a basis for how people want to live today.

Weston, MA

Aug 2012

The Coastal New England Harbor House, outside of Edgartown Village in an area overlooking Eel Pond and the Harbor behind, was designed in the Gambrel Shingle style. The implied symmetry of the house celebrates the long views to the water. The open field of wild flowers and fieldstone walls serve as a podium for the intimately scaled grand seaside residence. The primary living spaces take advantage of the long views to the water, while the primary access to the property is through a newly created courtyard, with its pedestrian entry and carriage house wing. The west side of the court houses a free standing pool house cabana in the gambrel style as well as a hidden pool and garden. The interior finishes recall the grand shingle style homes of the turn of the last century but live in a more casual way as people wish to celebrate island life today.

Edgartown, MA

Mar 2004

The 1682 vintage Harbor Restoration house along Edgartown Villages Historic South Water Street has lived many lives over the last three hundred and thirty plus years. At one time the water front elevation of the original house was actually the street front facade in the 1600s. The restoration of this property required the original house to be lifted off its crumbling foundation, a new brick veneered concrete foundation to be installed, and a post by post restoration of the original post and beam frame, all while keeping the 1682 street facade intact. The 1950s additions were removed as historically documented additional wings were recreated based on photographs from the mid-1800s. The interiors were restored or recreated based on the original materials and the attitude of the house today clearly speaks to the houses age and scale.

Edgartown, MA

Apr 2013

This Edgartown Village property along Edgartown Harbor is located on South Water Street in the Historic District of Edgartown Village. The total renovation/restoration began with lifting the original 1883 house and relocating the original form on a new brick veneered foundation. The interior was carefully reconstructed with new spatial allocations to respond to the topography and site conditions. The redevelopment included a pool, cabana, and extensive landscaping master plan that included bluestone patios and native plantings. As an exceptional example of sensitive preservation, the property in its present form enhances the overall streetscape and plays a vital role in unifying the imagery of the built environment within Edgartown village.

Edgartown, MA