Located on a corner lot in the Little Forest Hills neighborhood, this residence is shaped as much by its constraints as by its opportunities. The dual frontage introduced a series of restrictions—setbacks, visibility, and exposure—but also opened up a unique condition: the ability to redefine how the house meets the street. Rather than centering the entry on a singular front façade, the design shifts the focus to the side yard, transforming it into the primary threshold of the home.
The front door is integrated within this side yard, creating an arrival sequence that is intentional and gradual. Instead of moving directly from street to interior, occupants pass through a landscaped corridor—a green threshold that softens the transition. This moment of movement through the outdoors allows for a subtle pause, a decompression between the public realm and the private life of the home. By the time one reaches the entrance, there is a readiness to engage, to gather, and to connect.
This idea of transition carries throughout the project. A butterfly roof spans across the home and extends toward the side yard, acting as both a unifying element and an organizing device. It draws the house together while directing light and views into the spaces below. More importantly, it establishes a consistent relationship between interior and exterior, reinforcing the idea that the home is not a closed object but a series of connected environments.
The plan is structured around this connection. Each primary space has direct access to the outdoors, allowing daily life to extend beyond the walls. Living areas open toward the courtyard and side yard, while even more private rooms maintain their own relationship to exterior space. The study, positioned toward the front of the house, includes a walk-out patio that faces the street—offering a quieter, more reflective connection back to the neighborhood.
The scale of the house is carefully considered. While contemporary in form, it avoids the tendency toward oversized, dominant gestures. The massing is broken into articulated volumes that align with the rhythm of neighboring homes—each one an individual expression. This approach allows the residence to sit comfortably within its context, contributing to the character of the street without overpowering it.
Materiality reinforces this balance. A restrained palette of light masonry, warm wood, and dark accents creates a sense of contrast and depth without excess. The detailing is precise and quiet, allowing light, proportion, and spatial relationships to define the experience.
Inside, the architecture prioritizes clarity and flow. Spaces are open yet measured, maintaining a sense of intimacy while allowing for connection. Circulation is intuitive, guided by light and framed views, with moments of compression and expansion that shape how the home is experienced.
The Forest Hills Residence ultimately reconsiders the relationship between house, street, and landscape. Through the use of a side yard as an entry sequence, the organizing presence of the butterfly roof, and a plan that extends living outward, the project creates a home that is both connected and composed. It is an architecture that does not rely on scale for impact, but instead on the quality of transitions—how one arrives, moves, and inhabits space.
