Dawson Residence

In a rural setting on a 185-acre farm in Fayette County, PA sits this property where the Owner converted an old farm building into their residence several years ago. They commissioned the architect to add to the structure to provide better living space, an accessible master bedroom suite, an elevator for accessibility between floors, and provide a formal entrance to their home. This two-level structure organizes the current outdoor patio area into a new entry court and a rear private patio area that overlooks the Owner’s garden.

The several challenges of the site were connecting to the existing residence from an existing dormer and providing outdoor space that allows for views from the northwest to the southeast. The local agrarian vernacular architecture is abstracted through a modernist vocabulary to discuss a link between the past and present. Through several schemes and a lengthy editing process, the parts have been reduced to one major solid element and an open link to the existing house. The elements challenge notions of weight, tradition, and early patterns. The rituals and daily life patterns of the Owners influenced the fenestration from the inside out.

Architect and Construction Project Manager: lee CALISTI architecture+design
General Contractor: Owner
Primary Contractor: Brodine Construction