Red Oaks
South Shore, Massachusetts
Built in 1906 and perched on a forty-foot-high granite outcropping overlooking a South Shore harbor, Red Oaks had potential. The central portion of the residence retained some of its original character, but late 1990s additions had not aged well and the subsequent maze of rooms in a protruding wing didn’t relate logically to the central mass. The request was a reconfigured floor plan that better related spaces to each other and a campus that would serve the homeowners for generations to come.
To achieve these goals, the disjointed 1990s additions were removed from the house. Reinterpreted augmentations were developed that celebrated the 1906 structure and allowed the central box to lead the property’s narrative. While the concept of a porte-cochere would remain, the piece was completely reconfigured as part of an overall arrival sequence. Now, a winding drive along the edge of land and sea resolves in a stately arrival court with a new porte-cochere masking a stepped-down carriage house wing behind it and a new pool cabana protecting the privacy of swimmers and guests on the sundeck.
In addition to the carriage house wing, another addition was developed that would allow for much softer sequencing of spaces and floors within the home. Significant topographical challenges existed on-site with ledge and steep grade transitions abounding. By bringing the grade up just slightly and redesigning the spaces within this new addition, continuity could be conveyed from the entry at the porte-cochere instead of a steep and foreboding flight of 17 stairs.
Beyond the main residence, a barn on the property was repurposed as part of a comprehensive program for entertaining. The original barn lacked a proper foundation and was razed and rebuilt for enduring integrity. Now beyond the expansive lawn, the new barn all but beckons to guests to come sit by the fire, relax, and enjoy time together.
