Bryan Anderson

Described by its inhabitants in an early meeting as “a house of small spaces,” this Dutch Revival in the Whittier neighborhood was subtly expanded and extruded to add a little space, and much delight, to its 28-by-28 footprint. The unique cross-gambrel roofline inspired our team to extend the form into the backyard, repairing visual access and connection to the rear yard, while satisfying current setback requirements. Failing porches at the front and back were replaced with conditioned spaces that expand the 800 square-foot main level by almost 40% with bright and comfortable uses that engage both street and backyard. Upstairs, the owners gained a private bath and walk-in closet by pushing their light-filled primary bedroom out and over an expanded kitchen and informal gathering space. The extended cross-gambrel dormer feels right at home with the existing roof, as if it had always been. Only the recessed porch entry, oversized corner window, and flat-capped dormers hint at the airy and expansive transformation within.

SALA was contacted by the owner of Liquidpink Interiors to convert an existing pole barn on the designer’s acreage in the Northwest metro.

The designer and her husband confirmed the existence of pole footings allowing us to move forward with reusing the structure. A new insulated concrete slab was poured with a frost protected edge footing between poles.

Conceptually, the existing pole barn structure was wrapped in a thermal blanket. Structurally, this involved framing new walls between poles with 2×4 studs to the existing post height over which a new double top plate was run continuously. (Look closely and you can see the irregular posts breaking the smooth new surface of painted drywall.) New 2×8 rafters now bear on the perimeter top plate and a new steel I-beam that runs the length of the ridge, supported by four new columns. The new steel structure, left exposed, is—of course—painted pink.

The Black Squirrel Lodge design began with minimizing impact on its sloping, creek-side site. Excavation is limited to a crawlspace for mechanical equipment and a storm shelter beneath sleeping spaces and a shared-bath, all combined into a thermally conditioned core. The core is capped with a green roof to capture the runoff potential of its footprint.