Retreat

Retreat is a renovation and addition to a mid-nineteenth-century farmhouse in Iowa. The project involved the removal of incompatible previous additions in order to create modern, coherent interventions tailored to contemporary living. The site, once agricultural but now surrounded by housing developments, is enclosed by a weathered steel fence with a central lawn, pathways, and mature trees forming a quiet enclosure around the house. The architects introduced a new garage, gabled to echo the original structure, connected by a covered walkway with screened panels that offers an outdoor transition space and leads into a new glazed entry to the house. Inside, the design balances exposed historic materials—masonry and timber—with clean new surfaces finished in variations of white. Detailing throughout the project is restrained to emphasize the interaction of wood, brick, steel, and natural light. An existing brick fireplace remains as a focal point, complemented by a suspended steel stair ascending to the new upper-level suite. Compactly arranged within the roofline, the suite features fully glazed dormers that enhance headroom and admit ample daylight. The alterations foster an interplay of traditional form and modern sensibility, updating the house while retaining its restrained character.