House on College Hill / Friedrich St. Florian Architects

Architects: Friedrich St. Florian Architects
Location: Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Structural Engineer: Wilbur Yoder
Contractor: Joseph M. Furtado, Inc
Project Area: 3,000 sqf
Project Year: 2011
Photographs: Warren Jagger Photography, Inc

This chic new house on the west side of College Hill in is one of the most composed modern articulations seen in Providence in years. Friedrich St. Florian Architects, designers of the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., create a unique composition that brings fashionable design resolution to a neighborhood that has struggled to find appropriate harmonious styles.

Cognizant of view and transparency, the shiplap and cementboard-clad house rests on a pre-existing foundation. Principally, the conventional front façade is a public face that provides privacy. The bold and glazed downhill side offers stunning views of the Capital building and downtown skyline while assisting private open living.

The living and dining area occupy the main floor, and a master bedroom, study, and bathrooms are on the floor above. Beneath are charitable guest quarters, multipurpose exercise space, and a mechanical room.

A luminous LED lit stair tower is a modern sculpture that connects all three floors. Additionally, an elevator connects all floors to spacious passageways for all rooms, as well as a two story space over the dining area that vertically connects the living, dining, and kitchen spaces to the master bedroom and bathroom above.

Sustainable elements include a high-efficiency mechanical system, appliances, and smart passive shading techniques. Furthermore, an effort was made to use low VOC paints and reduce the use of synthetic materials.