Islington Perch

Islington Perch, Westwood, MA

Two "carved out" volumes intersect to create a new modern house

At the top of a hill, a paddock nestled amongst the trees proved to be the perfect setting for this new modern house. The hill is small allowing the house to be removed vertically from the neighborhood street edge, providing a sense of privacy and drama. The design takes its cues from the vast amount of exposed rock ledge that has been eroded over time. This inspiration is apparent on the public street side where a monolithic wall is carved out at the stair allowing for views while the rest of the wall provides protection from traffic and the public view. Conversely the opposite happens on the private side where the walls are fully eroded with glass doors and picture windows.