Mid-Century Max
This beautiful Mid-Century modern home nestled in the foothills of Ithaca was originally designed by German-born architect Max Cetto, who practiced primarily in Mexico. This home was his only built work in the United States. His method showed that his was an architecture that arose out of nature and was inextricably bound up with it. When the new owners purchased the home it was in the need of some major updating. It was collectively decided that both an aesthetic upgrade and some major improvements were needed to align it with current performance standards, resulting in a stunning rehabilitation and deep energy retrofit.
During the deep energy retrofit and modernization of the home, special attention was paid to the original design intent for inspiration to guide the direction of the project. A connection with nature was at the core of what Max intended, and we honored that with our material and detailing decisions, including using locally sourced wood, avoiding any petroleum-based finishes, and sourcing recycled content tiles. We also incorporated a full overhaul of the envelope and all of the mechanical systems to maximize the home's performance and reduce energy consumption. This project was a classic example of designing in a way to preserve historic significance while incorporating current systems that will enable this beautiful structure to live on for further generations as a more sustainable version of its original self.
On the design front, one of the most amazing aspects of this project for our firm was the opportunity to design and build the interiors, which included numerous pieces of custom furniture and trim details. Each piece was designed and crafted to incorporate a modern take on the mid-century style and was built out of locally sourced materials and used a biophilic approach to design. From the bed frames and storage cabinets to the dining table & chandelier, we were allowed to populate the home with pieces that reinforced the beauty and principles of the home to help bolster the client's experience of living in a house that was intended to connect one with nature and the land.
