When this rural property in Pennsylvania was recently sold, its new owners wanted to maintain its sense of history — the land is in the area of a key Civil War-era battlefield, and the house and barns on the property oozed historic charm and character.

But in an effort to maintain and update the structures, it was determined the house main — which had “undergone many unsympathetic additions and alterations over the centuries,” according to architect Jim Rill. Instead, a new house was build that fit the style of the property and the character of the area, mixing modern comforts with a style that looks like it’s aged over time.

One of the defining characteristics of the home is its use of windows (from Marvin Windows and Doors, we’re proud to say). According to a write-up on TrendsIdeas.com:

Despite the expanse of wood ceilings and walls, the interior is light and airy, thanks to large banks of colonial-style windows on both sides of the house.

“Transparency right through the house was essential,” says Rill. “The windows let the house breathe and make for an immediate connection to the outdoors. In fact, the outdoor living areas are treated as extra rooms that are as much a part of the house as the rooms inside.

Read the full story here.

[photo courtesy of TrendsIdeas.com]

A recipient of an “Award of Merit” for Adaptive Reuse in the 2010 AIA New York State Design Awards, this project from James McKinney of Sacco + McKinney Architects was selected as a winner for showcasing adaptive reuse, historic preservation and high performance.

The Mayo Smith, Seelye and Hitchcock Houses at Amherst College are viewed as local historical landmarks overlooking the town common. This project assures their preservation while looking to the future through the use of high performance building envelopes, solar energy for hot water and high efficiency mechanical and electrical systems.

These restored buildings provide attractive living environments with many of the same amenities as the new dorms on campus, including compliance with safety and accessibility standards.

Floor plans include a mix of room types preferred by upper class students, including singles, two-room doubles and suites. Also, common social and study space, music practice rooms, laundries and bathrooms. Existing floor plans were revised to improve space utilization, reclaim under-utilized space and accommodate new egress stairs.

Amherst’s “High-Performance Buildings Guidelines” called for technologically advanced systems and materials. While architecturally preserved on the outside, thermal and air barrier technology was applied at the inner face of the walls and integrated with window replacement to achieve a high performing envelope. Both open- and closed-cell foam products were used in response to differing wall construction in the various buildings. Existing windows were replaced with custom high-efficiency clad units matching existing profiles and sight lines. Marvin’s custom profiles and products, combined with their super energy performance, made them the perfect fit for meeting preservation requirements while addressing future needs.

New mechanical and electrical systems include high efficiency boilers, low flow plumbing fixtures, DDC controls to allow facilities to monitor performance of systems, energy recovery from ventilation air and high efficiency LED lighting. Roof top solar panels provide most of the hot water for showers and laundries and serve as a visible component of the school’s commitment to reducing carbon emission.

Modifications to accomplish modern accessibility were done with minimal impact on the historic nature of the buildings. New accessible walks flow with the site contours and porch decks were raised to eliminate the one-step barriers found at entry doors. Existing doors and entrances were selectively altered to meet width requirements in an architecturally sensitive manner. And historic main stairs were modified to meet current requirements, while maintaining their historic character.

Mayo-Smith, Seelye and Hitchcock Houses are proof that historic buildings can be fully effective in responding to the energy and environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Marvin products used in this project included double hung windows, custom configurations and historical replications.

Photography courtesy of James McKinney.

A recent article from Builder Magazine tells the tale of an all too common struggle architects face when a client’s desires seem to clash with the instinct to preserve the traditional character of an old home:

This 1915 house had good proportions, a protective roofline, and a view over the water. So architect Rob Whitten winced when the owners asked him to winterize it and add on. “Many such cottages have been brought to their knees by people wanting to turn them into four-season residences,” he says.

The renovated cottage includes Marvin double-hung windows that blend well with the other rustic but sophisticated materials in the home: wood-paneled walls, pine flooring, a farmhouse sink and cherry cabinets. Learn more about Marvin double-hung windows at marvin.com, and read the full article at Builder Online.

The Manor Garden, a newly constructed, multi-family residential building designed by Anthony Vandermark Jr. and Frank Minervini of Minervini Vandermark Architecture, successfully blends modern building methods and materials into its neighborhood’s historical context. For many years, the standard for new buildings in and around Hoboken, with few exceptions, had been very poor.

The Manor Garden helped demonstrate new thinking with its honest, straightforward design and construction. Many solid elements (brick, cast stone and metal) were largely predetermined, but the plan called for maximum glazing in an effort to help nature penetrate further into the deep narrow floor plan. Finding the right balance was necessary, adhering to strict city ordinances regarding clear ratios of glass to masonry, etc.

Marvin Windows and Doors were key in maximizing the amount of glazing with consideration for noise minimization on a busy, urban street. And since heat gain and loss were also concerns, Marvin’s range of products proved to be the clear winner. Marvin products used included casement windows.

Since completion, The Manor Garden has become a neighborhood standout and set a shining example for nearby infill projects to come.

Photography courtesy of Frank Minervini.

It’s no secret families are spending more and more time in the kitchen, a room that’s increasingly blending with or even occasionally replacing more traditional gathering spaces. With that in mind:

The owners of this kitchen in a classic house asked designer Mary Jane Pappas and her team to transform their existing work area to make it lighter, longer, and out of the way of foot traffic between the back door and the dining room. The design also had to provide pedestrian access to the garden, bring in more natural light, and combine modern efficiency with a refined, transitional appeal, says Pappas.

“To achieve this, we pushed out the rear of the kitchen, adding a breakfast area for four in the extra space. Beyond this, I added French doors that open directly to the back garden. Previously there were only windows at this end of the room.”

Those French doors are Marvin Ultimate Inswing French Doors. They provide a beautiful anchor for this reworked, wide-open kitchen layout. Read more about this great remodel project at TrendsIdeas.com.

[photo via TrendsIdeas.com]

To meet the owners’ desire to bring a little taste of Texas to their new Maine home, Jesse Thompson of Kaplan Thompson Architects designed a modest abode built to withstand the brutal winter cold while also considering the couple’s love for horses.

This 2011 myMarvin Architect’s Challenge winner sits atop a two-stall horse barn featuring a steeply pitched gable roof and double hung windows. Cedar shingles and clapboard were also used to fit the rustic Maine archetype.

Sustainability was a priority. The building plan allowed for extensive use of local woods and energy efficient insulation (R-30 to R-60 values on all surfaces) to stand up against the harsh winter conditions. Thompson utilized windows and doors from Integrity by Marvin Windows and Doors to help ensure a tightly sealed thermal envelope and options consistent with the woodwork.

With its breathtaking view of New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington and sweeping pastures for horses to roam, Thompson was able to meet the owners’ needs by creating a sustainable, yet modest home with just a touch of Texas.

Jeff Murphy of Murphy & Co. Design meticulously restored a Minnesota barn for comfortable functionality. Inspired by an enthusiasm for historic outbuildings and barns found in mountain regions in the U.S. and Europe, converting this rustic barn into a masculine enclave seemed like the perfect fit. The design called for a classic study and hunting shop that appealed to the homeowner’s love for history as well as the outdoors.

A rusted steel roof over a reclaimed and battered stone exterior gives way to an inviting interior comprised of reclaimed barn boards and timbers with large pieces of Loon Lake flagstone for flooring. A desk alcove in the study is surrounded by large double hung windows and warmed by a large stone fireplace.

The hunting shop includes a track-mounted ceiling hoist for raising deer out of the back of a pickup, an ammo loading workbench, washer and dryer for hunting clothes and a modern-day outhouse.

Marvin wood windows (including double hungs and awning windows) were an easy choice because of the availability of fir to help maintain the authenticity of the exterior. This, along with the sash detailing and the ability to customize without complications, made Marvin the perfect fit for the project.

Images courtesy of Susan Gilmore.

The most famous New York City brownstone in television history is up for sale. Again.

The brownstone in which Sarah Jessica Parker’s lead character Carrie Bradshaw resided in HBO’s Sex and the City just hit the market for a cool $9.65 million. Located in the West Village, the 4,100-square-foot home features five spacious bedrooms and six fireplaces, but you wouldn’t know it watching the show, where the brownstone was a cramped one-bedroom loft.

The hefty price tag may not be the only major hang-up, though. The brownstone was just purchased for $9 million in November, but rumor has it the steady stream of SATC fans who come to ogle the stoop Parker made famous has created such a nuisance, the current owners have been driven to sell.

Too bad the $9.65 million price tag won’t pay for privacy.

[Photo from Global Grind]

The American Brewery is a magnificent building, renovated and revitalized after having been abandoned 30 years ago. Over twenty unique, sometimes intricate window designs were needed to replicate the originals, and Marvin accepted the challenge. We initially wrote about the project about a year ago.

Today, we have a brief video case study to share, which really brings to life the significance of this revitalization project. The area around the brewery was deteriorating as much as the brewery building itself, and the renovated building — now office space — is having a positive effect on the community.