Moore – Knight House

Project Narrative

The historic Moore-Knight House, located in the Price Hill Incline neighborhood, was saved from demolition by the Client. Constructed in the 1860’s as the home of Robert Moore on land owned by the Price family, it was purchased by the Knight family in 1926, the first African American family to take up residence in Price Hill. For the subsequent decades, the house was occupied by African American teachers and scholars, eventually being converted into multi-family apartments in the 1970’s. The Architect was enlisted to re-imagine this important Price Hill home for modern living.

The initial design was confined to the historic home, but when the Client required more space, the Architect designed a complimentary modern wing. The addition is meant to evoke a historic carriage house. The two structures are connected by a two-story glass and steel bridge that creates visual separation while respecting the historic architecture.

A spiral staircase in the addition adds visual interest while an elevator provides additional access to the second floor. In the transitional space, the original brick of the former exterior wall of the historic structure was left exposed to add character and texture. A first-floor entertainment area fronts the hillside pool and provides sweeping views of the city.

Historic fireplaces in the kitchen and parlor were retained as accent features. A summer porch was returned to its original configuration, making it open air once again. Secondary bedrooms were located on the upper floor of the historic building.
The primary suite was located on the upper floor of the new “carriage house,” allowing for spacious accommodations and modern amenities.

                                           

Project Details

Submission Category

Building Architecture- Small Scale (<10,000 sf)

Date of Completion

March, 2023