Private Library

Our client had recently purchased a traditional two story four-over-four residence in a historic residential neighborhood with a restrained white stucco finish and understated details. The property fronted on the main residential street where it fit into the overall scale and pattern of the neighborhood. The property extended behind the house to an adjacent smaller street providing a unique opportunity to enter the property from the front or the back.

The program developed for the project included a new addition for a large and diverse library, a listening room for his large collection of music, a research and study office, a home theater, and a large collection of old and rare comic books. His vision was to create a modern addition which evoked memories of his well-known historic collegiate library. The secondary access and open rear yard provided the opportunity and freedom to create a modern, 3,000sf addition while preserving the contextual relationship with the traditional neighborhood on the street.

The design strategy created a new library pavilion connected to the private side of the original four-over-four floor plan. The double-height library space focused on both a central fireplace and a two-story window providing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The shelving for the books surrounded the main space on two levels with a second story steel catwalk on lateral sides of the main reading room space. The fireplace was faced with fossil rich stone tiles from Wyoming. The home theater and comic book collection are located on the lower level. Highly customized mechanical systems provide the controlled environment required by the library environment.