The Ninth Installment: Creating Secondary Entrances with Historic Sensitivity and Dignity

The challenge we as architects and developers face in the 21st century is to recognize value in the existing built environment and utilize that value as a framework for responding to contemporary living requirements. With this concept in mind, “curb appeal” or street identity, becomes an extremely important element of focus while pursuing an adaptive re-use of an existing building structure, historically-significant or not.

In the previous post, we proposed revisions to the existing primary entrance to the building that would complement the historic architectural significance of the building with functionally useful accoutrements in the form of a covered entry and raised bed landscaping to overcome architecturally offensive railings.

We also introduced a proposal to define more “street prominence” to a secondary access way to the rear of the property. An attached pergola provides weather protection for mail retrieval while pronouncing entry in the form of a garden gateway.

THE BACK DOOR
As we traverse a confined access way to the rear of the property,we find an opportunity to liberate space by eliminating an obsolete service entrance.

Upon arriving at the Southeast corner of the existing main structure, we are exposed again to a more open and inviting space, an opportunity to create a sense of arrival.

In this space, at the confluence of the East wing with the main structure, a secondary, yet inviting entrance becomes an important opportunity.
The easternmost façade of the East wing will be further modified in the next post! Stay tuned