Project: Rudolph House / Location: Cambridge, Mass. / Architects: Ruhl | Jahnes Architects / Location: Watertown, Mass. / Architectural Team: William T. Ruhl, FAIA; Sandra A. Jahnes, AIA, LEED AP; and Kathryn P. Bilgen / Size: 3,460 square feet / General Contractor: S&H Construction / Photography: Tony Luong
More than 60 years ago, noted modernist architect Paul Rudolph transformed a Cambridge, Mass., concrete-block commercial garage into 3,460-square-foot living space for a family. Sure, this type of adaptive reuse is commonplace and highly desirable today, but back then this was a forward-thinking and innovative concept.
“It seems to me that the architect who can adhere to the discipline imposed by an existing structure of inadvertent origin and by his clients requirements with such outstanding results has made a healthy contribution to the practice of architecture,” the editors of Architectural Record wrote back in 1960.
Eventually, everything needs to be renovated and updated. So when the new owners of the home needed to update the space, they reached out to Ruhl | Jahnes Architects (formerly Ruhl Walker Architects) in Watertown, Massachusetts). On the 10th anniversary of the project, Design Vibes is taking a look back to see how the project came together.
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Principal Will Ruhl says that when the house’s new owners hired the firm to renovate the space about 12 years ago, it was virtually unchanged from 1960. “We wanted to respect the original design, while also providing much-needed structural and material improvements,” the firm says on its website.
Ruhl explains that the original garage structure was a pretty brutalist early 20th century municipal garage, ”but Rudolph decided to blow that up to create more of a Sarasota-School main glass façade, all light steel and glass.”
Surprisingly, the building was not listed on the National Register of Historic places, which meant the architects were free to do whatever they wanted with the design. Still, the firm wanted to tread carefully. “We treated this project as being worthy of being treated respectfully / lovingly, despite not being forced to do that,” Ruhl says.
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The structure appeared to be in good condition, having been treated lovingly over the decades by the sellers. “This turned out to only be on the surface, and substantial structural problems were discovered just prior to construction.” There was a lot of not readily obvious work behind the finishes that had to be done to the primary glazed wall, which had virtually nothing holding up the roof, and an inadequate foundation. “As we often find in mid-century modern houses there also were a lot of water infiltration problems and failed insulation,” Ruhl adds. “Our clients were 100% committed to upgrading the entire exterior to even exceed present day Code, while trying not to lose the inside/outside connections.”
The other three exterior walls, which are largely below grade, and the roof received insulation in excess of code requirements. All new energy efficient heating and cooling equipment, including heat recovery ventilation, was installed to bring the home up to modern standards. “The result was much greater energy efficiency and thermal comfort for the family,” the firm says.
The building is organized as one large open great room, with private spaces on the perimeter in a U-shape. A primary bedroom is at one end of the structure, while the kids’ and guest rooms (with a shared loft space) are at the other, linked by built-in bookshelves that comprise a library which runs most of the length of the house. Ruhl | Jahnes replaced a leaky roof over the library (originally a sort of greenhouse) with an insulated translucent panel that floods the area with diffuse light year-round.
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“One of the home’s most remarkable features is a sunken courtyard, entirely hidden from the road and surrounded by big Victorian houses,” the firm says. “In Rudolph’s original design, a glass wall faces this courtyard. We replaced the wall with 10-foot, eco-friendly, triple-paned glass doors that slide open to fully incorporate indoor and outdoor living spaces.”
The question remains: How much of the project was renovation and how much was preservation?
“Love this question!” Ruhl says, adding, “This was a substantial reconstruction I’d say. The main wall of glass had to be completely rebuilt since the existing glass was single-pane, since there wasn’t much of any structure holding up the big steel trusses or roof, and since our clients wanted a much more open-able wall of glass (not just single doors). The kitchen was moved out of a side room to be part of the new main living space and the former kitchen became their two sons’[bedroom]. One important new item ended up not being built, a translucent steel and glass wall that would have created a virtual hallway from the Primary BR to the Primary bath and closets. The one part of the original house that was lovingly restored was the winter garden built into the hill at the back of the site, which retains the original Rudolph-designed steel and glass walls. All new systems, all new exterior insulated walls and roof, all new exterior windows, all new winter-garden translucent roof. So it was a loving collaboration I’d call it.”
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