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Renovation of the Ali Bessalel Residence
5107 Lawton Drive
Bethesda, Maryland 20816

History and Description of the Project

The owners of 5107 Lawton Drive had lived in the original (ca. 1960) rambler for a number of years, but the family of five was quickly outgrowing the building. After a lengthy search for a more suitable home in a similarly quiet neighborhood, the owners began to contemplate the potential of renovating and expanding their current home and remaining in the neighborhood that they loved.

The program for this project was to:

  • Add a second floor to the one-story residence which would include a new master bedroom suite and two equitable bedrooms for the two children.
  • Renovate the existing first floor to improve the living spaces and the flow through the house.
  • Convert existing first floor bedrooms to Guest Bedroom, Office, and Playroom.
  • Create a new more serviceable kitchen and to open it to a new first floor Family Room that would connect the house to the garden.
  • Renovate the basement level of the original home to provide an in-law suite and an updated recreation space for the family.
  • Provide a one-car garage.

One of the primary concerns of the owners and their architect was that the “new” residence was thoughtfully designed to be respectful of the neighbors on the cul-de-sac. The neighborhood provided plenty of examples of renovations that to the owners seemed to be “overbuilt”. The scale and massing of the residence had to be appropriate so as to not overwhelm the adjacent single-story homes. The design strategy was to tuck the new second floor level under a new roof structure. Gables and limited dormers allow light into the new spaces. The existing garage was removed to allow southern and eastern light into the dining room. A new garage was constructed on the west side of the building that provides better access to the street and a better connection through a new mud room to the family spaces (kitchen, family room, and play room). The site planning strategy was to organize the house so that there was an inviting, easy connection between the first floor living spaces and the yard. A new exterior terrace was designed as a comfortable transition space between the two. The terrace opens diagonally onto the rear yard.  French doors at the dining room and the family room allow easy access to the terrace and open circulation during fair weather entertaining.