Indian Hill House
Location: Fox Chapel, PA 
Status: Construction completed 2013
Size: 4,500sf

The Indian Hill house was built in 1967 and features an articulated cathedral-ceilinged living room overlooking a beautiful site with a pond. It suffered, however, from an awkward drive-through entrance sequence and a small, dark kitchen and dining area. The clients wished to reorient the driveway, enclose the porte cochere, and rework the core area to bring light and views into the house. They also required an addition for an office and exercise studio. Following the original house's lead, Cruze Architects mirrored the living room structure for the addition, framing a new entrance that orients views towards the pond. A long stone wall, designed to match the original fireplace and site walls, leads guests towards the entrance and provides privacy to the dining terrace. A new cathedral ceiling and a dramatic ridge skylight make the kitchen area bright and airy. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Indian Hill House is that the project proceeded from initial conception to completion in six months.