Contemporary Victorian
A Legacy Home Rebuilt from a 1948 Arlington Bungalow
Embedded Files
The owner of a 1948 bungalow in Arlington needed significantly more space for her family, but she wanted to remain rooted in the neighborhood she already loved. Savvy Design Studio explored multiple design paths during schematic design, from a modest addition to a full tear-down and rebuild, carefully considering cost, timeline, constructability, and long-term value.
The chosen solution was to tear down and rebuild on the existing foundation, a decision that created both opportunity and complexity. The original slab-on-grade construction left no basement for utilities or ductwork, and updated setback requirements meant the upper levels could not be built as wide as the original lower level.
Through careful massing, an artful roofline, and a habitable attic for utilities, storage, and recreation, Savvy Design Studio transformed the constrained bungalow into a larger, more functional family home.
The result is more than a rebuild. It is a legacy home: Thoughtfully designed for the family’s future, respectful of its Arlington context, and carefully shaped to feel as though it belongs on the site.
Construction was completed in July 2024.
CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS PHOTOS:
EXISTING HOME & SCHEMATIC SKETCH OPTIONS:
DEVELOPMENT OF THE DESIGN
Following the review of the Schematic options, the Owner chose a design direction, and we refined the sketch plans and elevation to obtain budget pricing. Once the budget and scope were established, the plans were hard-lined for Owner approval. Then a 3D walk-through was created so the Owner could experience the spaces and tweaks could be made before committing to them.
The final stage of design work was to create Construction Documents based on the approved walk-through and edits, release the project for final engineering, and use those drawings to obtain the Building Permit.
Page updated
Report abuse