Renovation Right: The Circle House by Cannon Architects

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Welcome to The Circle: a small looped residential pocket in the Bloomsbury subdivision of the Five Points Neighborhood. Our subject is a 2004 renovation to a 1930’s bungalow that makes a striking contemporary addition to the rear of the house, almost completely hidden from the street. It also maintains a one story presence, and achieves the greatest property value on the block.

A clear awareness of context is evident: the street elevation of the house is affected by slightly increasing the scale and adjusting the proportion of the front gable, giving hierarchy to the entrance. The project also accommodates a front porch. These two moves are done carefully to place the structure closer [than the original] to the character of the bungalow style house. This show of respect is appreciated and maintains the visual integrity of the neighborhood.

The addition provides a well-lit living area wrapped with outdoor spaces that overlook the back of the property. There is a strong attention to detail here, as every connection is delicately designed, from the light steel tensile members trussing the exposed wooden rafters to the painted steel beam which becomes the roof’s drainage system.

This house is an excellent example of how an owner’s tastes and needs can be met effectively, neighborhood character is preserved, and property values go through the roof.

Photography: JWest Productions
Architecture: Cannon Architects
Construction: Alphin Design/Build

Dana05/21 07:41 AM

“...property values go through the roof.”

I’d love for you to elaborate on this point.

RaleighRob05/21 07:47 AM

^It’s Five Points...the property values always go thru the roof.
At least in this case, it was done without pissing off the neighbors and preserving the neighborhood character. Thus proving it can be done in a win-win situation.

Thanks for these “Renovation done right” articles...they’re great!

Ayse05/21 08:43 AM

I think I just died and went to heaven.

JZ05/21 10:10 AM

I had the opportunity to go in the house with the builder, Will Alphin. The rear addition helps to evolve the house from a series of small compartmentalized rooms, into a more open plan, more in keeping with a 21st Century lifestyle.

Will is a perfectionist and the details are well thought through and carefully executed.

I suppose we will all have to wait for it to go on sale to see what the additional value is...unless we can see a before/after comparison of the bank appraisal(s). Since appraisers focus on more on quantity (# bedrooms, closets and bathrooms) rather than quality in assessing value, I am sure the increase in square footage alone has proven to increase the value.

The question for the owner would be whether the overall construction cost was in balance with their needs, wants and eventual payback upon sale. Other than the resale value, the other matters are quality-driven.

My personal take is that the project was well done, integrates well into the neighborhood context while still offering up its own voice/personality. A good balance indeed.

Christopher Triplett05/21 12:32 PM

Well done!

A really nice component of this is how well the front of the home is balanced with the addition: Although the addition is very modern and the front is traditional with modern details, it doesn’t look like two different homes were joined at the hip.

I also really appreciate the integration of the addition’s roof system into the actual living space. So it isn’t just a roof.

This is great Raleighism

Cheers to the owners, Mr. Alphin, and Cannon Architects.

-CJT

http://ginkotron.com

v-arch05/21 03:55 PM

As an architect living and working on the Circle we’ve admired this house as a renovation well done for awhile...those of us with modern tendancies celebrate when we can have our great neighborhood/street and good-bones-house as well as a well-designed, quality-material additions or renovations done with 2008 modern aesthetics....without upsetting the historic quality of the street ...or for that matter any anti-modernists in the neighborhood.

Jake05/25 05:43 PM

Simply amazing home. The balance of traditional exterior and modern interior spaces really puts a smile on my face. Would love to find a home like this in Raleigh some day.

Lisa Jeffries05/26 07:36 PM

“This show of respect is appreciated and maintains the visual integrity of the neighborhood… This house is an excellent example of how an owner�s tastes and needs can be met effectively, neighborhood character is preserved, and property values go through the roof.”

I couldn’t agree more! Amazing photos and what an amazing concept.

Lea05/27 08:46 PM

We practically stalked this house when the work was in the finishing stages. It is gorgeous, the perfect blend of 1920s and modern. I love the intersection of Asian and traditional American lines, too.

I’d never seen a picture of the original house, and now I’m even more impressed.

- L

Spiro05/29 05:03 PM

I think it will be a shame if the City enacts zoning/development regulations that keep rebuilds from happening. I know I would never pay for an architect to do all this good work and then have the City shoot it down during review.

Spiro

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