Great designs often use height to their advantage. It can make a dramatic impact on a project, especially when architecture emphasizes volume, maximizes the number of floors in a building or captures amazing views.
Making Narrow Lots Feel Large
When working with small lots and narrow footprints, going vertical when you can’t go horizontal can really enhance the open feel of a floor plan.
With Kasper Modern, it was a no-brainer for these one-story small lot homes to leverage as much interior height as possible. Shed roofs add a distinctive mid-century modern element while also enabling immense interior volume. Creatively placed high glass adds light and privacy without dominating the wall space.
The Paloma model at Edgewood has a high ceiling and open foyer that help it feel much larger than its 30’ wide footprint. The living area also has two-story volume, which provides the open concept floor plan with some visual separation between the kitchen and other spaces on the main floor. This volume also allows for more interconnectivity between the upstairs loft area and the downstairs living spaces.
Nowhere To Go But Up
The Hudson, a student housing project located on a tight infill parcel, had nowhere to go but up. The client wanted the maximum number of units possible for the space, so every bit of the parcel was used. Local zoning required 3 stories of parking based on the number of units and bedrooms offered, so designers topped the parking garage with five stories of residential space. The team used careful planning to make sure the building would not be subject to high-rise code and the additional expense that comes with it.
Architecturally, the client wanted the design to read as one continuous building, so the team used continuous brick cladding to help connect the floors vertically. Although there is a clear distinction between the garage levels and residential levels, it all still ties together to create an urban vibe. Three tower elements rise high above the garage, and one includes a coveted sky lounge overlooking the nearby campus.
Mountain Highs
For the model complex at Canyon Point at Traverse Mountain, the main focus was leveraging the height of the hillside to maximize views of the Oquirrh Mountains. From the moment buyers walk in the front door, they are immersed in views through floor to ceiling windows that open up completely to the outdoor deck, where glass railings continues the panorama. The main living area is oriented to allow for the mountains to be seen from every direction. In the Ashton model, 12’ ceilings are pitched toward the rear of the house which further expands views and emphasizes the focal point of the home – its location.
Sloped sites can be a challenge, but they can also open opportunities for grand spaces from all levels. A major consideration during the design phase was the staircase location. Placing the stairs in a centralized location created a focal point in the design. On the lower level, the flow to the outdoor backyard area is seamless, with a staycation-feel environment. A yoga pool, entertainment pavilion and simply amazing views create a true backyard oasis.
These projects were featured in Volume 09 of our inspire magazine. Check it out here!
