Compact Footprint, Expansive Living
Bristol Townhouse – Cambridge, MA
Tucked into a dense East Cambridge block, a modest three-unit townhouse was re-imagined from the inside out. Evergreen Architecture led a deep energy retrofit and full reconfiguration of the building, aligning 21st-century performance with the neighborhood’s historic rhythm.
Working within a compact footprint, the design raised the roofline. A carefully approved zoning modification allowed the top floor to expand upward, bringing light, air, and volume to what had been constrained attic spaces. Each level now balances openness with privacy: first floor living areas draw daylight from both front and rear façades, while upper-level bedrooms step back to form sheltered terraces and views across Cambridge’s skyline. Upgraded insulation, high-efficiency systems, and tight detailing reduce energy demand, enhance building performance, and extend its lifespan.
LOCATION
Cambridge, MA
CONTRACTOR/ DEVELOPER
The Harder Group
INTERIOR DESIGN
Studio Eastman
SIZE
6,000 SF
PHOTOGRAPHY
Erin Little
ROLE
Architectural Design and Permitting
Section
First Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan
Evergreen’s architectural framework established the clarity and proportion that make the interiors sing. With Studio Eastman shaping materials and furnishings inside, the collaboration produced what the team calls warm modernism—a balance of precision and comfort, detail and restraint.
