The Hook and Ladder Company No. 2 firehouse was built in 1890 as the annex to a larger firehouse located to the south. After the firehouses were decommissioned, they fell into disrepair and eventually fell victim to fire with only the annex building remaining standing. The annex then had several uses including manufacturing and garage before it was purchased over thirty years ago by the current owners.

The owners, a fine artist and his wife, completely rehabilitated the annex and turned it into their residence and painting studio. The restoration work included removing brick infill, historically accurate repairs to the masonry and stone, new windows, and rebuilding of the entire south wall that was once shared with the main firehouse.

After living in the home for over thirty years, modifications to the building were needed that would allow them to continue living in the home for years to come. The existing staircase was narrow and climbed seventeen feet from the entry to the living space. Several options were explored, and it was decided the best way to provide improved access to the upper living level was to add an elevator. Locating an elevator within the existing structure would be too disruptive to the building and the easier approach would be to build a new structure for the elevator.

The design places a new pavilion to the south of the firehouse against the existing blank masonry wall. The pavilion’s lapped fiber-cement surface inflects inward to create oversized covered entries referencing the scale of the large arched masonry opening on the front of the firehouse. Large glass double doors with oversized transom windows on either end of the entry gallery provide a clear view though the addition to both Harrison Street at the front and Hammond Street at the rear.

The glass end walls of the entry gallery allow full visual connection to the site with the exterior wall materials extending into the gallery to further blur distinction; the heavily textured green stucco wall of the existing building and the lapped fiber-cement of the new pavilion. The entry gallery, with a ceiling height of 12’-4”, is used to display the owner’s art and is the new entry to the home.

The elevator open onto a new second level foyer with black slate tile flooring. A new opening in the existing masonry wall connects the pavilion to the main living area and staircase. A large sculptural skylight opening brings natural light to the center of the home. A bedroom and full bathroom are located to either side of the elevator and provide the extra room needed for visiting children and grandchildren.