Rubio Residence

This classic early 1940’s Art Moderne addition won a 2019 DESIGN Arlington Award. Contrary to historic restoration, the design approach was to create a compelling and seamless larger interpretation of the original house. The overall renovated ground floor plan is a cruciform. Essentially, four equal, pinwheel arms comprised of a service wing with three living wings. Like the dining area, each modest living space benefits in size and stature by the formal axial open-plan layout.

The 2-story rear exterior addition employs classic Streamline Moderne iconography. Curved corners, horizontal proportions, corbelled brick banding, extended window expanses, glass block, and nautical elements such as round windows, were all common Style devises used to suggest sleekness and modernity. The master suite ceiling and floor are elevated to allow higher addition ceilings both down stairs and above. Utility transitions and closets are placed at the interior corner of the new rear and existing courtyard wings. On the exterior they are expressed as a vertical architectural pylon. Similar to the existing front entry chimney, the vertical element roots each wing to the ground and negotiates their varied intersecting parapet heights. The south facing corner glass walls are complimented by a fixed sun shade. Its rounded edges visually draws attention around the building corner.