Darling Residence

Historic Home Restoration

HartmanBaldwin followed specific guidelines as set forth by Build It Green, a green point rating system that certifies the level of ‘green’ measures applied to residential construction.

Indoor Air Quality. To further protect indoor air quality, low VOC paints were used throughout the home’s interior. Proper exhaust system was installed, the HVAC system has a high efficiency filter to reduce indoor air pollution, and carbon monoxide alarms were installed as well.

Natural Resources. The project team took strides to reduce waste wherever possible. “Everything that could be saved was refurbished and reused onsite or in another location,” said Brookman. Some of the original plumbing fixtures, as well as a pedestal sink and kitchen sink that were not original, were removed and reused on another project. Construction waste, including cardboard, plastic and aluminum, were recycled.

Water Conservation. All the faucets and showerheads were replaced with low-flow fixtures, and the toilets were replaced with low-flow reproductions of a 1921 toilet with a low wall-hung tank. These new, historically appropriate fixtures and toilets meet today’s code requirements for water conservation.

Community and Living Green. As is common with many older homes, the Darling residence presents an inviting face to the community, with a front door and porch oriented toward the street. The entryway also provides residents with a good view of callers approaching the door. The pedestrian-friendly neighborhood is served by public transit, and many neighborhood services and amenities are located within walking distance. The project also received GreenPoint Rated points for accessibility, thanks to a ground-floor bathroom that has blocking for grab bars.

Building a “Green” Greene & Greene Improving the environmental performance of a historic home proved to be an exciting opportunity for the HartmanBaldwin team. “After studying sustainable, energy-efficient architecture in college, few clients were interested in such applications during the 80’s and 90’s,” said Alan Brookman, HartmanBaldwin’s lead architect on the project. “This was the first significant project I’ve been involved with that could be considered green.” HartmanBaldwin carried out the large and complex renovation project in multiple phases. One of the first steps was relocating the original garage to another Claremont property which was then restored and used as a small guest house. The new garage and studio were built in the same location and replicates the design and scale of the original, but accommodates three cars and is positioned to afford more private garden space on the otherwise exposed corner lot. The starting point was the main house that had seen better days. Many interior and exterior components were extremely worn or rotten.

There was extensive rot in the roof outlookers supporting the broad eaves, and most of the windows were either not original or rotten beyond repair. Poorly planned past remodels had compromised structural integrity in some areas, requiring reinforcement of some walls and the roof. The original finishes had mostly been altered, and the exterior shingle siding and roofing were not original. The project also involved renovating many of the home’s interior spaces, including the kitchen, breakfast room, laundry and bath, living and dining rooms, office and upstairs bedrooms. The remodel reorganized an inefficient, earlier kitchen remodel, and added vintage-styled bathrooms for guests and visitors. Additionally, a larger master suite was created with a full bath and additional closet space.