Hat House (2018-2020)
Mid-Century Renovation, Nashville TN
We saw Hat House as an exercise in editing and asked ourselves, how do we make this home a better version of itself? Our goal was not to create a new architecture but rather to set free the architecture already embedded in the structure. We arrived at the site and fell in love with it. It was ripe with potential —- If only we could change this one thing.....That one thing was an asphalt shingle, mansard roof capping the central living space. Neither handsome nor well built, it left one underwhelmed. We responded by reframing the houses 'hat', adjusting it's proportions and recladding it in wood (a bio-based modified FSC certified, pine). Once we chose to use wood for the new Hat, we deployed it across the house as window trim, siding, soffits, and screens. In this way the hat was now the progenitor for decisions regarding the whole house. Further, we used slatted wood to connect the new hat to the surrounding garden. The house's masonry wall now became an impenetrable garden fence, the hat became a wooden pavilion in the garden and the living room an opening in the wall connecting the garden to the world beyond. With the scale and texture of the exterior now updated, we followed this strategy of minimal interventions into the interior where white oak millwork and trim were used to refocus the various rooms into a series of linked spaces. The project sought to bring focus to a home we felt was ripe with the potential to become a place of repose and respite.
project Credits
Architecture: Michael Goorevich Architect, PLLC
General Contractor: Giachery Lizarraga with Hybrid Builders
Site Supervisor: Ronnie Allen with Weston Purcell
Structural Engineer: Tony Locke, Engineered Solutions
Lighting Consultant: Hermitage Lighting Gallery, Susan Trim with Bryan Christenson
Cabinetry and Trim Work: Just Plane Wood, Roger Gramm
Kebony Cladding Supply: Delta Millworks
Photography: Anthony Matula - MA2LA [Brand Design + Photo + Film
AWARDS
2021 AIA Tennessee Design Award of Excellence
Jury Comments: The jurors felt this project dealt with the history of the house, showed respect for the original building and brought it to life and into today. Starting with an already cool, well-done house – the designers are cleaning and updating it. Liked the detailing they added and restored along with the energy and vibrancy they brought to the space. Bathroom and kitchen details are very lovely and beautiful, and everyone loved the red door!
2023 May Published in Dwell Magazine, on-line:
A Tennessee Midcentury Topped with a Curious Hat Gets a Reverent Renovation by Elizabeth Fazzare
Link: https://www.dwell.com/article/hat-house-michael-goorvich-architect-midcentury-renovation-nashville-tennessee-aef21c33
