Kent Residence Addition

The 600sf pavilion, designed by Michael Arad at Handel Architects, is an addition to a private residence by the prominent modernist architect Charles Gwathmey. The pavilion, situated between the existing residence’s two wings, is separated from the original structure by a glass corridor. A priority for the addition was for it to meet the residents’ need for wheelchair accessibility and to complement the aesthetic of the main house while not competing with it. The interior and the access to the addition from the outside is fully accessible. In coordination with the landscape architect, a gently curved ramp wraps around the building’s exterior to connect the addition with the property’s driveway. Fieldstone retaining walls border the ramp and enhance the property’s landscaping, demonstrating the success of well-integrated accessible design.

The pavilion’s superstructure and its below-ground foundation system were carefully coordinated with the existing house. To help minimize the visual impact of the addition on the property, the pavilion’s foundation is set back with the steel structure cantilevering over the foundation on a series of steel angles, giving the addition a floating effect. To maintain obstructed views from the windows of the rooms in the main house, the new addition has a compact roof structure, made possible by the use of Port Orford Cedar Nail Laminated Timber (NLT). Columns and beams consisting of slender steel angles support the NLT and tie the roof system together.