A striking architectural transformation has taken place in Brooklin, United States, where ElliottArchitects has successfully converted a traditional summer home into a comprehensive year-round residence. The 3,921 square foot project, completed in 2024, demonstrates how contemporary architecture can honor regional history while meeting modern living demands through the addition of dedicated studio and workshop spaces.
The design team, led by Matt Elliott, Isaac Robbins, and Maggie Kirsch, drew direct inspiration from New England's rich agrarian architectural heritage. The project employs formal archetypes and materials that deliberately reference the region's agricultural buildings, including barns, grain silos, and drying sheds. This approach creates a visual dialogue between the renovated structure and its historical context, establishing a sense of continuity with the local architectural landscape.
Material selection played a crucial role in achieving the desired aesthetic connection to agricultural architecture. The architects incorporated corrugated metal siding and open-joint rainscreen systems, materials traditionally associated with farm buildings and industrial structures. These choices not only provide practical benefits in terms of weather resistance and maintenance but also reinforce the building's conceptual relationship to New England's farming heritage.
The transformation from seasonal to year-round occupancy required significant functional additions to accommodate extended living. The integration of studio and workshop spaces represents a key component of this conversion, providing the residents with dedicated areas for creative and practical work. These additions were seamlessly incorporated into the overall design scheme while maintaining the project's agricultural aesthetic vocabulary.
Structural engineering for the project was handled by Thornton Tomasetti, ensuring that the building's technical performance matched its architectural ambitions. Greg Day Lighting provided specialized lighting design services, while mechanical systems were designed by Claire Betze Building Works, LLC. ReVision Energy contributed expertise in sustainable energy solutions, and construction was executed by David Gray Carpentry and MK Purvis Construction.
The project utilized advanced building systems to ensure optimal performance and comfort. Manufacturers including Uponor, Klus, Q-Tran, and Runtal North America provided specialized components that support the building's functional requirements while maintaining design integrity. These systems work together to create an efficient and comfortable living environment suitable for year-round occupation.
Photographer Rob Karosis captured the completed project, documenting how the architectural intervention successfully balances historical reference with contemporary functionality. The images reveal how the building's form and materials create a harmonious relationship with the surrounding landscape while clearly establishing its identity as a modern interpretation of traditional agricultural architecture.
This project demonstrates ElliottArchitects' ability to create architecture that responds thoughtfully to both site conditions and regional building traditions. By transforming a seasonal residence into a year-round home while incorporating dedicated work spaces, the design addresses contemporary living patterns while maintaining deep connections to New England's architectural heritage.
