NACOOCHEE ADDITION

Basic-Workshop was commissioned to design a thoughtful modern addition to a historic home located in Athens, Georgia’s celebrated Boulevard Historic District. Nestled in a neighborhood defined by its charming early 20th-century architecture and mature tree canopies, this project bridges the character of the past with the clarity of contemporary design.

At the heart of the intervention is a 531-square-foot rear addition that replaces a deteriorated screened porch with a new living space, side entry, full bath, and laundry. Our approach centered on a deep respect for the existing home’s scale and materiality, while introducing a bold, clean-lined form that enhances interior spatial quality and exterior livability.

The new volume is wrapped in a vertical Shou Sugi Ban wood rainscreen siding—a high-performance envelope strategy that allows the addition to breathe while introducing rich texture and shadow play of the traditional Japanese cypress siding. In contrast to the historic home’s light green lap siding and pitched roofline, the addition asserts itself with a low-sloping standing seam metal roof and carefully articulated fenestrations. Large aluminum-clad sliding doors and clerestory windows bring daylight deep into the space and offer uninterrupted views of the backyard and adjacent side porch.

Material choices and construction details were executed to subtly differentiate the new from the old while maintaining visual harmony. The exposed beam and columns, natural wood soffits, and corner trim draw inspiration from the home’s historic palette but are expressed with a minimalist sensibility.

A covered side porch and a rear deck transition the interior into a newly landscaped backyard, reimagined in place of a former shed. These outdoor living areas were designed to promote gathering, relaxation, and connection with nature, enhancing the home’s daily rhythms.

In essence, the 230 Nacoochee Avenue addition embodies Basic-Workshop’s philosophy: honoring context, embracing craft, and shaping spaces that feel both timeless and rooted. This project stands as a modern dialogue with history—subtle yet self-assured, progressive yet grounded.