Modern House

Woodbridge, Connecticut, 2008

2012 AIA Connecticut Design Award

This renovation of a modern house built in 1952 and originally designed by Yale architecture professor King-Lui Wu (1918-2002) is discreet in spirit and substantial in its details. The goal of this project was to preserve the elegance, materiality, and connection to nature evident in Wu's design while softening the visual and acoustical surfaces of the house. For example, the new ceiling grid in the living room is composed of reused cypress wood and natural felt panels with new energy-efficient lighting. The felt panels also back the vertical cypress grillwork walls providing acoustic insulation and adding subtle texture. Another significant feature of this house is a custom brick fire place designed by the Bauhaus artist Josef Albers (1888-1976), who was Wu’s colleague and friend.