Introducing the Pinon Home, a 1950’s ranch that was so delightfully renovated with modern elements. The designers of this renovation were able to salvage almost everything while reworking the space, by giving the home a new kitchen and modern elements contrasted with the original mid century modern architecture. Designer Rob Pyatt said, “it was a very sensitive renovation, since the original house was pretty amazing for its time.”
The redesign of this 1950’s mid-century modern ranch modernizes a concrete block and plate glass home that was structurally failing due to poor soil conditions. The structural rework gave an opportunity to reconsider the “usonian” principals on both the interior and exterior of the home.
The entry courtyard is reprogrammed into public and private spaces by the simple insertion of a slated wall that doubles as a bench. The wall filters the view of the private patio from the front courtyard which redirects visitors towards the entry while the other side provides seating for the rear courtyard. The front door is reconsidered as a way to accentuate the slippage of material from exterior to interior. The offset pivot hinge door opens to reveal that the 1×1 block wall continues into the home from the exterior wall. The front of the door is a simple mild sheet steel but the backside of the door is clad with the same ribbon mahogany that graces the interior walls.
On the interior of the home the original block wall that divided the kitchen and living room was replaced by a three-quarter height internally illuminated ribbon mahogany wall that helps open the kitchen up from its cramped 1950’s design. The galvalume ceiling treatment for the kitchen helps reflect light back down onto the work surfaces and continues outside, seemingly through the glass, to cover the soffit. Once outside the metal turns up the fascia where it hides an integrated gutter and ultimately becomes a galvalume standing seam metal roof.
The original cork floor and cedar ceilings were refinished and the lighting was replaced to brighten the spaces. The windows and doors on the north side of the building were replaced to minimize heat loss in the winter. The kitchen and all the bathrooms were reworked and the majority of the woodwork was replaced of refinished.
The original concrete block, unfinished cedar fence, mild steel door and galvalume roof create a palette of natural materials that will show their age over time. They act in concert as markers of the synthesis between old and new architecture and reconsidered design philosophies.
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There are so many of these ranch homes in Boulder, and with the influx of young boulderites and modern interest, the Pinon Home is a wonderful example of the possibilities and changes that can be made. I am curious if anyone knows of similar homes where this has been done?
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Narrative Credit: Rick Sommerfeld and Rob Pyatt; Photo credits: Michael Deleon Photo.
* Pinon House: designed by Rick Sommerfeld and the3rdspace, in collaboration with PyattStudio.