Wax House
The Wax House, built in 1950, is site 24 within the Frank Lloyd Wright-planned community of Usonia, located in Pleasantville NY and designed by Aaron Resnick.
The current owner took on the stewardship of this home, embarking on a collaborative, design/build process. We sought out creative solutions that preserved the Usonian aesthetic embodied in the original design, while balancing the practical needs of a modern home.
The infrastructure needs of the project required substantial demolition of the building down to the frame, from which the home was completely restored and reimagined. This effort included installing new mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems throughout. All of the interior and exterior surfaces were either refinished or replaced, including all new millwork, windows, and doors.
Extreme care was taken to both salvage material from the original structure, as well as to source replacement tidewater cypress for the windows, doors, and siding – custom milled to match the existing. Throughout, original details such as piano hinged doors, beveled cabinet pulls, mitered siding corners were either replicated or reimagined to echo the original while accommodating the needs of the new house.
"Your flexibility and open-mindedness, as well as, artistic and professional judgement, were awesome and invaluable in creating the ultimate end product, every step of the way."
Awards
“This project is a wonderful transformation, a very sensitive and respectful treatment of Usonian House. We were struck by the before and after images, and admired how the small additions and landscaping enhanced the connection to the site”
Interested in joining the REO team?
info@rolfselertoffice.com