Aligned Architecture Studio

This two-story bungalow was built in 1905, and converted from a residence into offices in the 1970’s. The 2018 remodel involved a complete gutting and reinvention of the 1,300-SF first floor, from three under-utilized offices and two abandoned rooms into a spacious architectural studio. Three former load-bearing walls were replaced with post-and-beam frames supported on new concrete footings below the floor. A tall glass door leads from the building lobby into the new suite which includes a conference room, a collaborative studio space, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a mudroom with a door to the back yard. The new interior spaces celebrate both past and present. The carefully-preserved century-old windows were cased with new trim replicating the original historic fir casing. Hardwood flooring with visible stress and saw-marks is made of reclaimed hardwood dating to the building’s era of origin. Modern elements include the large glazed openings between the lobby and the studio, and the exposed glue-laminated structural timber elements. The work areas feature ApplePly maple plywood countertops, and are illuminated by hi-tech LED fixtures. The conference room’s new oversized glazed doors were mounted onto steel track and rollers fabricated circa 1890, that were abandoned decades ago inside a wall cavity and re-discovered during construction!

The former drafty envelope was improved as the wall, ceiling, and floor cavities were packed with insulation. The removal of partitions and the introduction of new interior glazing allow for daylight to reach all corners of the studio. The FSC-Certified flooring is made with hardwood salvaged from former industrial buildings. The mechanical equipment was replaced with high-efficiency units, and all ducts were insulated. The electrical system was replaced, and all lighting is provided by new efficient LED fixtures with smart dimming controls.