Shift House
This project was designed for a site in Lawrenceville, PA, a residential neighborhood in the northwest of Pittsburgh.
The Lawrenceville neighborhood is characterized by the housing typology of long, thin rowhouses with brick, stone, and wood finishes.
The site is a very small (24' x 50') empty lot at the corner of Bandera Street and Ater Way, and has a prime view of the St. Augustine Church.
Historically, this lot was divided into two residences each spanning a mere 12' wide.
For my project, I worked with a mass (12' x 30' x 30') consistent with the neighborhood typology and historical context.
I then performed shifting transformations on this volume to include outdoor spaces on each level, and to maximize views of the St. Augustine Church and the Allegheny River Valley.
![diagram1 [Converted].png](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ead8d6083439e0d77ecd999/1602166425341-WKVQ4XL8IPTYPHLXZF5N/diagram1+%5BConverted%5D.png)
Sequence Axonometric Drawing
Approaching from Bandera Street, the hedges of the front yard draw occupants toward Ater way, and then back along the facade wall, allowing for a more private entrance and a larger transition between the public street and the private house.
As they ascend up the central spiral stair, occupants have a chance to interact with the outdoors and experience the neighborhood and community at every level with each terrace.
Plans and Sections
Elevations
Ater Way Elevation Bandera Street Elevation Rear Elevation
Perspective Views
Bandera Street View
Section Cut
Bandera Street View
Dining Area
Ater Way View
Second Floor Hallway
Third Floor Hallway
St. Augustine Church View
Skylight View
Central Stair
Exterior Render
Skylight View