Contextual Fit

Design II - ARC257

This project challenges us to design a thoughtful architectural addition to Richard Meier’s iconic Smith House on Long Island Sound. The design must respond to the evolving needs of the client while respecting the integrity and ordering system of the original modernist structure. Through analysis of the existing architecture such as its circulation, structure, massing, and spatial hierarch, we will generate diagrams and conceptual frameworks that guide our intervention. The addition must maintain a distinct presence yet harmoniously integrate with the existing form, using strategies like extrusion of system patterns and conceptual analogies (e.g., hinge, reveal, shift).

Narrative

A family has just moved into the Smith House and is looking to expand their home with a design centered around an artist’s palette, a symbol of creativity, individuality, and the blending of ideas. One spouse is a graphic designer who works from home and enjoys painting, while the other is an art curator who frequently hosts gatherings for fellow artists and collectors. Their two children have inherited a passion for creativity, one explores digital animation, while the other loves sculpting and pottery.

Inspired by the idea of an artist’s palette, they want their addition to reflect their artistic lifestyle. The focal point of the expansion will be the master suite, imagined as the central "color" on the palette, anchoring the home with tranquility, intention, and personality. This space will be a true retreat, featuring large windows that flood the room with natural light, soft textures, and layered tones that evoke both comfort and creativity. Complementing this will be a light-filled family room, designed as a gathering space where creative energy and relaxation blend seamlessly, just like varied hues on a palette. An outdoor patio, inspired by plein air painting, will provide a scenic space for sketching, sculpting, or unwinding in a creatively stimulating environment. A home gym will round out the addition, designed with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic to represent the contrast and clarity found in the negative space of a well-used palette.

This artist’s palette-inspired expansion will be a living work of art, seamlessly blending function and aesthetics to create a home that nurtures inspiration, collaboration, and self-expression.