Beinfield Architecture PC

Norwalk, Connecticut

Located on two small sites divided by a narrow public lane, the mirror-image facades of the main house and guest house create a dialogue between the two, binding them into one home and solving the problem of unifying the composition. This formal planning technique, combined with the close proximity of the buildings to the road, help change the scale of the project to that of an earlier era.

The simple forms, frugal use of glass on the public faces, white-painted shingles and steeply-pitched roofs are all drawn from New England vernacular architecture, while the cupola shapes are inspired by neighboring Sheffield Island Lighthouse, a focal point of the major view from the property. The matching tower forms create a distinctive 'skyline' for the home as viewed from the surrounding neighborhood and Long Island Sound.

Edgewater Cottage, located closest to the water is a larger, more simple volume that contains the major living areas including the master and child's bedrooms while Nearwater Cottage, across the way, is composed of smaller volumes and contains a three-car garage, guest room and home office.

The spaces in the main dwelling are arranged to maximize views of the water, making the Sound ever-present to the inhabitants. Secondary spaces are located off the three-story stair hall containing a sculptural steel and walnut staircase that is lit from the cupola monitor above. The inland guest house contains a dramatic two-story guest suite and a home office housed in a tower. While the guesthouse has limited view of the water, it overlooks a reflecting pool with no discernable edge that, along with an allee, helps join the landscape visually with Long Island Sound beyond.

Industrial materials such as steel, concrete and fiberglass are mixed with hand-finished Venetian plaster, glass mosaic tile, and dark wood finishes to create an interior that is both edgy and warm, hard and sensual. Old World and New are combined to create an intimate and luxurious seaside retreat.

Services
Architecture
Interior Design