Old houses are innately charming, but sometimes you just need a new space. So how do you build a contemporary addition that fits with the old architecture that attracted you to the house in the first place?
Architect Mike Killeen of Killeen Studio Architects in Benton Park regularly fields requests from homeowners who inquire about an addition to their home that matches its style, but it’s a rare and exciting challenge when someone calls about a contemporary addition.
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“Matching old architecture is its own art,” he says. “But when people want to veer off and go with a contemporary solution to an addition, you really get to dream.”
Before any designing begins, Killeen considers the space. Does your home have the bones to do it? Have an architect look at the current proportions and layout to evaluate how much room there is to work with.
“There’s not necessarily a formula for these things,” says Killeen. “It’s a unique puzzle every time to make additions work in unity with the old building.”
In designing a contemporary addition, Killeen takes into account the building’s forms—its gables, rooflines, arches, etc.–and begins to relate those unique details to a modern style. That could mean adding a contemporary-looking gable or archway to the addition–it’s reminiscent of the old architecture and yet fresh and interesting–or using contrast to create depth. If the house, for example, features a flat roof, perhaps the choice of a gabled roof would add interest to the design.
Killeen is clear about one rule of thumb: Don’t design an addition that competes with the original form. You want the addition to be interesting and functional but to not distract from the original beauty of the home.
How to get started? If you’re curious about a specific architect, take a look at their portfolio. Have they done this type of work? If so, how did it turn out? You could also plan a time to meet with the architect at your home to brainstorm ideas. While experience is worth its weight, don’t count out newer architects, says Killeen—especially since contemporary additions are sometimes rare even among established architects.
And, before you get too far in the process, Killeen encourages clients to check with a real estate agent to discuss how a contemporary addition will impact property value—out of the reach of his work but important all the same.
“When I see a beautiful old home and an addition next to it that is filled with light and is really thoughtful…beyond the resale, it seems like these people are living their dreams,” Killeen says. “It’s the best of both worlds. I wouldn’t give up on it.”
