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House in the Woods

We are excited to be working with a new client who desires to have a house in the woods. The design of the house takes advantage of views into the forest on the north side, while also carving out a south facing courtyard for the family to enjoy year round. The house is comprised of a heavy masonry base, a light glassy main level, and a flat roof with broad overhangs punctured by large skylights that accentuate important elements. 

Griffith Residence

Matt and his family moved back into their house this month after a six-month renovation! The house, which is located in the Longview Gardens National Historic District, was originally designed by A. Lewis Polier between 1954-1956 as his personal family home. The exterior closely resembles some of the later work of Harwell Hamilton Harris, and the 2,200 SF interior is efficiently planned to now accommodate four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The renovation focused on new bathroom and bedroom spaces, a new kitchen, revamped systems, and updated finishes. Important elements like the south-facing screened porch, floating stair, and interior planter remain. Matt, Ashley, and their three kids are thrilled to be back home in the woods of East Raleigh!

Nolintha Residence

We can now announce that the Nolintha Residence was completed this spring in the Prince Hall Historic District. While it is bittersweet that a fun project is coming to a close, we are thankful to look back on a wonderful collaboration with our thoughtful clients and team: Southeastern Properties and Development Company, dopko cabinetry, and Pleasants Electric.  The project consists of quiet, light-filled spaces inserted into the shell of an existing brick foursquare house. Welcome home Van and Vanvisa!!

Book of the Month

This month, one of our favorite firms, RCR Arquitectes was named as the 2017 laureate of the Pritzker Prize  architecture’s most prestigious award.  In their honor, we are revisiting El Croquis Edition 162, RCR Arquitectes for our Book of the Month.  Among the qualities that we admire in their work is the intense responsiveness to the site, something we strive to do in every project.  The book highlights almost twenty of their projects, ranging from houses, to museums, to transit stations. It includes process models, sketches, and diagrams that suggest the importance of context to their work.  Listen to them explain a bit about their process and what influences their work here.

Song of the Month

Please contact us if there is any way we can help you. 

Best.

in situ studio

919 397 3949
www.insitustudio.us

It’s been a warm and wild February here at in situ studio.  Construction is in the air, and we are ramping up for a busy spring and summer. Check out what we’ve been up to below and on our Instagram!

New House Project

We have new friends and clients for a ground-up house in the Runnymede neighborhood in West Raleigh. While we have not finalized our scheme yet, the site has inspired many ideas and sketches. The clients appreciation for modern architecture gave us the opportunity to visit one of the best modern homes in the area, and also a chance to get up close and personal to two of George Matsumoto‘s houses. We love working on this one – stay tuned!

SAR Conference

Erin had the pleasure of visiting the Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina for the annual AIA South Atlantic Region Board Retreat. The 600-acre campus was designed by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and landscape architects Innocenti and Webel. Milliken is an amazing company, committed to design excellence in their products and place.

Lamb House Underway!

Construction has begun on the Lamb Residence!  We first met the Lambs almost five years ago and are so excited to see the project coming to life.  The house is sited in a clearing on a beautiful, wooded site in Apex with access to the American Tobacco Trail and views to a pond.  Our clients wanted a home that would allow them to age in place and accommodate visiting family and friends. The program is organized around a central, south-facing courtyard: the main volume, holding the public spaces, defines the northern edge, while flanking lower bars hold sleeping and work spaces define the courtyard. Many thanks to our clients, Robert and Vivian, and to our contractor, Durham Potter!  It is such a pleasure to work with you all!     

Trull House Update

Construction is moving along nicely at the Trull House in Cary. Situated on a property that is long in the north-south direction, the house is divided into a solid sleeping wing and an open, south-facing public pavilion. The entrance is around the back of the house, into a glass hall that connects the two wings. A single sprawling roof shelters the distinct parts of the house. The material palette consists of standing seam metal roofing panels, wood soffits, anodized aluminum windows, polished-face concrete block, and Ipe siding and decks. Construction should be complete by June. Thanks to Michael and Sandy for the opportunity to work with them and to Bob Aiello for his amazing work building the house! 

Poinsettia

The band that Matt play drums for, Poinsettia, is playing the back room at Cat’s Cradle this Thursday! Formed in 2014 with vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, Vince Whitehurst, and bassist, Finley Lee, the band’s music has been described as “elemental…magnetic indie rock” and compared with the work of Polvo, Dinosaur Jr., Lync, Smashing Pumpkins, and Consonant. Their self-titled debut album, released in February 2016 and recorded by Mark Paulson, is available on both iTunes and Spotify.

Song of the Month: “On Hold” by The xx 

Our Song of the Month is “On Hold”, a single off of The xx‘s latest studio release, “See You”.  The xx is comprised of Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim, and Jamie xx, who we love! Their millenial interpretation R&B tones mixed with indie pop music stays true to their roots, while effortlessly combining the distinct sounds of each artist. Give it a listen!

Please contact us if there is any way we can help you. 

Best.

in situ studio

919 397 3949

www.insitustudio.us

January has been a jam-packed start to the new year. Check out what’s been happening below!

Spring Teaching

Mary and Matt are teaching again this spring in the School of Architecture at the NCSU College of Design. Mary is teaching the ARC 202 Environment Studio with Patricia Morgado and Michael Parsons. The studio focuses on architecture’s relationship to context. Matt is teaching the graduate level ARC 404 Form Studio with Don Kranbuehl. The studio uses precedent study as a means of introducing students to organizational and formal devices in architecture. Stay tuned for images of the work!

Kimball

We’re thrilled to be in the design process for a house on a small site near downtown Raleigh. Exterior spaces are carved from a simple volume to maintain a clear formal concept. An open stair tower offers our clients and guests passing views of the interior and site as they move toward public spaces on the top floor that look out to the Raleigh skyline! Construction is scheduled for early spring. Check for updates on our Instagram and Facebook accounts.

Raleigh Little Theatre

We are excited to be working with Raleigh Little Theatre on renovations to the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre.  Last spring, we completed a schematic design process which proposed updates to the entry, bathrooms, box office, concessions, gathering spaces, and balcony looking over the Raleigh Rose Garden. We are starting to refine that vision, working with our consultants, Diversified Consulting Group, Lysaght & Associates, and Crawford Sprinkler, and are honored to have the opportunity to modernize, refresh, and make accessible one of Raleigh’s treasured institutions.  Check out upcoming shows here.

Hill House Update

Construction continues in Troutman on the Hill House, with rough-ins and windows happening this month!  The main spaces of the house look out over a gorge near Lake Norman State Park and provides a perch for our clients and their miniature schnauzer, Wernes. We have enjoyed working with Kelly Custom Builders and Lysaght & Associates.  More soon!

AIA North Carolina

As many of you already know, Erin is serving as AIA North Carolina President for the 2017 term. She is already busy visiting the seven local AIA sections across the state, promoting engagement between architects and the communities they serve via the Activate North Carolina initiative. Erin and the AIA are pushing an agenda of meaningful outreach efforts statewide, organizing design competitions that address community needs, and supporting lectures, panels, and other public events to improve the level of discourse about how design affects our communities. We love sharing Erin’s energy with our colleagues across the state – she’s a formidable instigator! 

Book of the Month

We are pleased to announce that Chris Tonelli, one of the owners of So & So Books, our suitemates, has just had his 2nd book of poetry picked up by a publisher.  A very hard-earned congratulations to Chris. Look for the book next year from Barrelhouse Books!

Please contact us if there is any way we can help you. 

Best.

in situ studio

919 397 3949

www.insitustudio.us

Happy New Year from in situ studio!

We are continually thankful for the ability to practice architecture in our great city – knowing that without a supportive community of family, friends, collaborators and contractors, none of this would be possible.  

We are excited for new projects, new ideas, new memories, and new friends – here’s to 2017!

in situ studio

919 397 3949

www.insitustudio.us

Happy Thanksgiving! We are thankful for our family, friends, clients, contractors, and consultants who continue to make this all possible! We have had a action-packed month. Check it out below! 

AIA Awards

This month we celebrated friends, colleagues, and good design at the 2016 AIA NC Design and Chapter Awards in Winston Salem. The annual gathering recognizes significant projects, individuals, and firms that have contributed to the quality and livability of the built environment. We were thrilled and honored to receive four awards for our work.  The Corbett Residence received an Honor Award, and the Medlin Residence, the Ten at South Person, and Church on Morgan all received Merit Awards. We were especially delighted that two of our teachers and mentors, Dennis Stallings and Roger Clark, accepted the Kamphoefner Prize and F. Carter Williams Gold Medal, respectively.  Congratulations to all the awards recipients! 

Nolintha

Construction is nearing completion for the Nolintha Residence – a major renovation to a historic foursquare house in downtown Raleigh’s Prince Hall Historic District. Driving by, you’d be hard-pressed to notice any change to the old house. Yet, inside, we’ve worked with our clients to craft a new atmosphere that is open in plan, active in section, and filled with light. A rear addition provides a hint of the interior from the rear yard. Thanks to Southeastern Properties and dopko cabinetry for their great work!

St. Matthews

It has been a pleasure working with St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church over the last couple years on their master plan and the addition/renovation to their fellowship building. The Hayden Building will double in size, allowing the vibrant congregation and community to enjoy and grow into more space for years to come. A capital campaign is set to begin next month. 

Fault House

We are excited to be working on a new house in Raleigh for clients who first approached us nearly two years ago. The site is at the edge of a forest near downtown and opens to the rear towards long views of a breathtaking valley beneath the forest canopy. The house has modern roots and makes the most of big forest views, natural light, and the separation of public and private spaces. Arrival, entry, and movement through the public spaces happen along a diagonal “fault” in the plan to reveal the view of the valley. Stay tuned! 

Album of the Month: “15 Songs” by Wes Phillips

We typically feature a single song each month. This month, however, we would like to share an entire album with you – 15 Songs by Wes Phillips. Released in 2009, the album includes a wide range of instrumentation – from light and airy acoustics to heavier, brooding, electronic beats – all created by Wes. Before embarking on solo work, Wes was one of three members of a spectacular Raleigh band, Ticonderoga, along with Mark Paulson and Phil Moore, who later formed the Bower Birds. Wes died in May. We hope you enjoy his music and find beauty in what he did during his short life.

Please contact us if there is any way we can help you. 

Best.

in situ studio

919 397 3949

 www.insitustudio.us

Happy Halloween from in situ studio! We have a lot of news to share this month, but, first, we want to thank Mike Welton from Architects + Artisans for featuring our work yesterday in his monthly Arts & Culture column in the News & Observer. Read the article here! 

Fall Photoshoot

This week, we are excited to have our fall photo shoot with Keith Isaacs. The shoot will capture:

• Jubala Coffee – their second location, located in the aLoft across from NCSU.
• The Moura Residence – a ground-up house on a wooded lot in North Raleigh.
• The Braun Residence – a ground-up house on an infill lot near North Hills.
• The Ocotea Residence – a mid-century renovation inside the belt line in West Raleigh.
• The Taylor Residence – our first completed project in Charlotte!

We are thankful for our adventuresome clients, who made these projects possible through their vision, commitment, and creative input. Stay tuned for updated photos this winter!

Jake Heffington

We are excited to announce that Jake Heffington has joined our office as a designer! Jake studied anthropology, philosophy, and religion at UNCW. He has practiced archaeology and studied Arabic politics in Jordan and the West Bank and has worked with Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, all prior to attending NCSU, where he received his MArch in 2016. He is a two time AIA Triangle Fellowship Nominee, a 2016 Kamphoefner Honor Fellow, and SEED certified. He spent two summers working on design/build projects with 100 Fold Studio in Lakeside, Montana – one as a participant and one as an instructor – and a third summer participating in the NCSU design/build studio at the NCMA. Jake cares about the social and cultural implications of architecture, loves to teach, and spends too much time looking at diagrams and constructivist art on Pinterest. Welcome, Jake! 

AIA East Tennessee

Matt traveled to Knoxville last week to present the 2016 AIA East Tennessee design awards. As jury chair, Matt gathered a handful of colleagues – Chris Baribeau of Modus Studio, Katherine Hogan of Tonic Design, Robby Johnston of The Raleigh Architecture Company, Tony Patterson of patterhn ives,  and Jolie Thomas of Vines Architecture – to review twenty-six submissions. The jury was very impressed with the overall quality of the work and granted awards to five projects, including an honor award to Beardsley Community Farm education center, a collaboration between University of Tennessee Architecture Professor Jennifer Akerman, Elizabeth Eason Architecture, and a handful of students. Matt spent much of the day leading up to the event walking throughout downtown Knoxville, which is a very active urban space with numerous landmark buildings, a vibrant market square, beautiful topography, and a thriving creative community. Special thanks to John Sanders of Sanders Pace Architecture for his hospitality during the visit!

AIA Atlanta Residential Design Awards

This month, Erin participated in the AIA Atlanta Residential Design Awards jury alongside Christopher Rose of Christopher Rose Architects in Johns Island, SC and Joel Barkley of Ike Kligerman Barkley in New York. It was an honor to be part of the conversation and to review amazing work from firms in the Atlanta area! 

Book of the Month: “The Modern House in America” by Ford and Ford

Our book this month is a favorite resource from our office library: The Modern House in America by James Ford and Katherine Morrow Ford, published in 1940.  The book is a collection of 64 American houses, designed by over 30 architects and built between 1934 and 1939.  The projects are documented with photographs and plans, and include notes on family composition, program, site, climate, construction details, and cost.  Many of these projects are well-known, but many others are new to us.  Favorites include the Gropius House (Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer, Lincoln, MA, 1938), the Hagerty House (Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer, Cohasset, MA, 1938), the House in Fellowship Park (Harwell Hamilton Harris, Los Angeles, CA, 1936), and the Fortune Rock House (George Howe, Mount Desert, ME, 1939).

Although The Modern House in America is out of print, you can still nab a copy of your own online, or come by and look through ours.  Special thanks to Matt’s mom, who snatched up a flea market copy and passed it along to us.  What a find!

Please contact us if there is any way we can help you. 

Best. 

in situ studio

919 397 3949

www.insitustudio.us

Fall is here and we have lots of news to share!

AIA Triangle Tour of Residential Architecture

If you haven’t already bought tickets to the AIA Triangle Tour of Residential Architecture on Saturday, October 8th, it is not too late! You can buy tickets here. The Ten at South Person townhouse project is one of five projects on the tour. We hope to see you there!

Sir Walter Raleigh Awards

This month, we received Sir Walter Raleigh Awards for two projects, Church on Morgan and The Ten at South Person, a collaboration with our friends at DHIC. The Sir Walter Raleigh Awards recognize significant contributions to the character, environment, and appearance of the City of Raleigh. This year, over 200 attendees celebrated the event at CAM Raleigh, honoring projects and service in the categories of Residential, Commercial, Historic Preservation/Rehabilitation, Public Facilities and Spaces, Landscape Design, Public Service, Community Impact, and Innovation. We are so full of thanks to our inspiring clients, collaborators, and community for making Raleigh a great place to work and live. Check out more details about the awards and see photos from the event here. 

Hopscotch

Early every September, Raleigh is abuzz with activity as the Hopscotch Music and Design festival takes over clubs, venues, and museums throughout downtown. This year, Matt attended Design Hopscotch, hearing illuminating talks by Tina Roth Eisenberg of Swiss Miss, Artist Ekene Ijoema, Larry Scarpa of Brooks + Scarpa, and Erin White of Community Food Lab. On the music side, highlights included The Powder Room, Quilt, Lambchop, Beach House, and a mind-blowing main stage show by Sylvan Esso. New to music venues this year was Church on Morgan, which hosted a slate of artists requiring a smaller, more reverent venue. The space supported the shows incredibly well, as reported here by Raleigh Agenda. Playing host to Hopscotch was a nice complement to other recent events held there like TEDx Raleigh, Innovate Raleigh, and City Camp NC. Props to the church for crafting a desirable atmosphere for community events beyond Sunday morning worship.

Four Square Renovation

We recently starting working with a family interested in expanding their early 20th century foursquare house near downtown Durham. The design respects the existing neighborhood by being quiet and using traditional materials in a concise, modern manner. A new glass wall between indoors and outdoors slides away, opening the house to the rear yard. We can’t wait to see this project come to life – stay tuned!

Book of the Month – “Poole’s: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner” by Ashley Christensen

Raleigh’s own, Ashley Christensen, 2014 James Beard winner for Best Chef in the Southeast and owner of many of our favorite restaurants in town, has co-written a cookbook on the concepts behind her modern diner, Poole’s. The books shares recipes for everything, from counter snacks like pimento cheese, to a baked apple sangria, to buttermilk fried chicken. Get your copy today at So and So Books! 

Please contact us if there is any way we can help you. 

Best.

in situ studio

919 397 3949

www.insitustudio.us

August was a busy month, full of model-building, community meetings, and site visits. Jeremy Leonard got married at the NCMA! And, Mary finished her exams and is now a licensed architect in North Carolina! August was huge!

Matsumoto Prize 2016 and AIA Residential Tour

The Matsumoto Prizes were awarded last month, and we received 2nd and 3rd place jury selections for our entries, the Corbett Residence and the Medlin Residence! Congratulations to Alphin Design Build for taking the top prize. See a full list of all the winners here. Also, the Ten at South Person will be on the AIA Residential Tour next month. Get more information here!

Braun Residence

The Braun Residence is moving along and is expected to be complete in a few weeks. We have enjoyed working with the contractor, Durham Potter, for the first time. Cabinets by Xylem are in, and railings by David Wehrenberg are scheduled for installation next week. Finishing touches are all that remain!

 Nolintha Residence

This home for two of our office’s dearest friends is nearing completion in downtown Raleigh. Working in the Prince Hall Historic District, we have carefully blended old and new on the interior and created a minimally articulated rear addition that complements the rich quality of the existing house. Southeastern Properties has done a wonderful job making the space come alive, and we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of cabinets by dopko cabinetry.

Book of the Month: “Manual of Section” by Lewis Tsurumaki Lewis

 Hot off the press from Lewis Tsurumaki Lewis, a New York-based architecture firm, is their latest collection of drawings that analyze the sections of some of the world’s most important buildings. The book has already been heavily utilized for teaching and precedent research.

Song of the Month: “Life Crisis” by River Whyless

Our Song of the Month is “Life Crisis” by River Whyless.  The song is off their new album, We All the Light. The band blends americana roots, bluegrass undertones, and a typewriter to create their unique sound. Started in Asheville in 2011, the band continues to evolve creatively and culturally. They will be playing in October at Cat’s Cradle – go see them!

Please contact us if there is any way we can help you. 

Best.

in situ studio

919 397 3949

www.insitustudio.us

Happy Summer from in situ studio! We have vacationed, worked, retreated, and are gearing up for a busy fall. We’ll be back to our normal newsletter format in August!

Please contact us if there is any way we can help you. 

Best.

in situ studio

919 397 3949

www.insitustudio.us

The summer is in full swing at in situ studio, and we can’t believe we are already halfway through the year! We had an exciting month – four projects went out for bid, five are under construction, and two were completed. Follow our Instagram and Facebook feeds to keep up with progress real time! 

The Corbett and Medlin Residences Online

The Corbett and Medlin Residences were featured this month on numerous blogs, including archdaily, contemporist, and dezeen. Thanks to Richard Leo Johnson of Atlantic Archives for his incredible efforts capturing the image of both projects! 

Lamb Residence

The Lamb Residence is sited in a clearing on a beautiful, wooded site in Apex, with access to the American Tobacco Trail and views to a pond. The house is designed for a couple with grown children to host family and friends. The program is organized around a central, south-facing courtyard. The main volume, holding the public spaces, defines the northern edge. Two lower bars, holding sleeping and work spaces, extend out, flanking both sides. Many thanks to our clients, Robert and Vivian, for their ideas, endurance, and, of course, the doughnuts!  

Mountain Retreat

We’ve been working on a small cabin on a steeply-sloped site at Old Orchard Creek Farm in the North Carolina mountains. The house stretches out parallel to the slope, with views looking out over the valley and historic farmstead below. Parking and entry are cut into the mountain behind the house. Exterior spaces include a large deck, a patio with a fireplace and shower, and a satellite camping platform. The house is sited to make the most of valley views and preserve specimen trees, including the biggest cherry trees we’ve ever seen. We’re looking forward to more site visits as this little house materializes!

Carpenter Park

The first phase of our restroom and picnic shelters at the Town of Cary’s Carpenter Park are nearing completion! Final walkthroughs are taking place over the next couple of weeks. We have enjoyed our collaboration with DHM Design over the years to get this project built and can’t wait to see the landscape grow in and the park populated with people!

ACTIVATE Triangle Bus Shelter Competition

ACTIVATE Triangle is hosting a bus shelter prototype design competition for the City of Raleigh! The two stage competition is open to any AIA Triangle member or firm. The jury for stage one includes Tom Kundig, FAIA, Coleman Coker, RA, Christian Karkow, and Michael Stevenson, FAIA, jury chair. Registration opens July 1!

Book of the Month

Our Book of the Month is “This Brutal World” by Peter Chadwick, a new release from London’s Phaidon Press. The book catalogs the work of some of our favorite architects, from the Smithsons to Sigmond to Marklï to Breuer. In the book, Jonathan Meades is quoted, “There was good brutalism and bad. But even the bad was done in earnest. It took itself seriously, which is a crime in the market whose insistence is on mindless fun and moronic fun.” The good, Mr. Meades, is some of the best. Come to So and So Books to find more gems like this!

Please contact us if there is any way we can help you. 

in situ studio

919 397 3949

www.insitustudio.us