City folks, who are active members of a shoreline club in the summer, purchased a property nearby for their seasonal encampment.

Through patchy additions and alterations, this old house had lost any trace of its original summer-stock charm. We set out to turn it into a better house. Selective demolition reduced the house to a workable core, where new spaces were added to accommodate a family of four, regular visitors, and summer dreams.

Now, it’s virtually a new house.

Retaining much of the envelope allowed for zoning advantages, the salvaged component of the shell lent itself to a classic broad gable shape with two stories of dormers off its slopes. Children and guests are on the 2nd floor, with the master suite occupying the entire 3rd floor. Beneath the peak of the ridge winds a new dramatic stair surrounded by hall balconies and floating landings. The core is illuminated from all adjacent spaces and from a skylight centered on the stairwell. The fairly open layout displays a casual flow: from upper floors, through the living spaces, out the door to the deck, yard and terrace. The interior blends nicely with the forms on the exterior that feature asymmetric, curved rooflines and stepping dormers.

And yes, there is a path across the yard to the club.