Back in 2002-03 (can’t remember), I was a big fan of the old architecture in St Louis and still am. My neighborhood, which is the same one I’m back in today, was full of brick shotgun homes, 2 families and a street of bungalows. I was really proud of living in an area with such original architecture that when this house was built several blocks away, I was appalled.
Like any new home on a lot in an old neighborhood, it looked out of place. Just by the fact it was a new structure on an empty lot, it looked odd. Add to the fact that it was a crazy looking, modern home and folks in the hood (including myself) thought it was a real mistake. Not sure how much grief the guy took or if he even cared, but I heard about it frequently and saw ppl on the neighborhood chat board mentioning it.
So 5-6yrs later what do i think of the house?
Firstly, I’ve realized that it takes some time for a new house to fit in. The trees must grow back, the landscaping takes place, the weathering of materials, etc.
Secondly, the owner did a decent job w/ the landscaping that really helped to fill around the large white mass. The thin and see thru wooden fence also does well to tie the modern structure to more natural surroundings.
Lastly, I’ve come to appreciate a mixture of design styles within a modern urban setting. I personally chose to be a bit more discrete and not disrupt the curb appeal of my street, but I don’t think that option was here for this house. So if you’re going to go new, then challenge the current preconceptions of new homes and that’s what this guy did.
Only thing I know (or I’ve been told) about the owner is that he’s an architecture teacher at Washington University, here in St Louis.
