Residential Portfolio

Cordova Residence

Midtown of Charleston

The Midtown project is located on a 1.39 acre parcel, within Charleston, South Carolina’s Old and Historic District.  The overall architectural design of the project continues the language of the surrounding neighborhood, while individual building designs are a modern interpretation of the historic architectural proportions, details and streetscape rhythm.  A mix of new and traditional materials was used in a way that respects traditional building practices.  Details and materials like steel porches combined with IPE decking and bamboo ceilings are consistent through-out the project, creating a fluid language for the neighborhood while making a gesture to the historic language and forms.  The design process created collaboration between the architects and developers, the Charleston Board of Architectural Review, local planning and preservation groups, and the city’s residents.  The response to the Midtown development has been extremely positive.  The end result is a modern urban infill embraced by a unique historic city.


Residences at Longborough

This project is a series of single family residences commissioned by a developer in the newly re-developed Longborough neighborhood within the Wagener Terrace area of Charleston, South Carolina.  The three bedroom residences average around 1,800 square feet with detached garages that face a small alley.  The deep porches and Craftsman detailing is typical of the surrounding neighborhood.  Several homes feature roofdecks allowing a view of the Ashley River.


IN PROGRESS | Ashley Blvd Residences

Coming & Morris

A mixed-use redevelopment makes its mark on an historic neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina. Offering 35 homes and a commercial building with two rental apartments, the project successfully marries the relationship between private, semi-public, and public spaces without simply "re-tooling" the historic "Charleston Single House" type. Considered by city planners and officials as a model for contemporary development, the project addresses modern concerns while complimenting its historic surroundings.
The Background This project is located in the downtown historic district of Charleston, South Carolina, at the corner of Coming and Morris Streets. This historic neighborhood has been experiencing rapid redevelopment and restoration in the past several years. Historically, this 1.5-acre site contained both residential and commercial buildings, and an old street that extended off of Coming Street into the interior of the property. By the 1990s, the site was being used as a gravel overflow parking lot for the College of Charleston.
The Constraints The project required that the new homes be sold below market value to make them affordable to a younger generation of buyer. Providing housing at a reasonable price in what was once a vacant lot, would require a dense development with completely new infrastructure, and space was at a premium. Other constraints involved the FEMA flood elevation requirements, which required the new buildings be raised 5 to 8 feet above the ground in a neighborhood of historic homes built very close to the ground. Furthermore, attempts to gain the support of the City Board of Architectural Review, the surrounding neighborhood groups, and the historical and preservation organizations, had to be balanced with the needs of the developer and the budget of the project.
The Challenge The challenge was to design an "all at once development" which could provide an urban infill, and continue the neighborhood fabric without overwhelming it. Due to the number of dwellings required, a new street and its infrastructure was created. It was also necessary to provide sufficient off street parking and outdoor space, as well as abundant natural light within each building.
The Solution A mixed-use solution was proposed and the property was rezoned to a new zoning district type; created by the City Zoning and Planning Office to encourage this type of development. The historic street was reestablished and extended over to Morris Street to provide access once again to interior lots. It was determined that there was to be 35 homes and a corner commercial building that contained a 1,000ft² of commercial space on the ground floor and two rental apartments above. Nineteen of the residential units are single-family detached structures and sixteen of the units are contained in eight duplex structures. The buildings are derived from five basic types that alter according to various site relationships. All residences utilize porches and rooftop terraces in order to replace the exterior spaces that were displaced by density at the ground level. The residences seek to achieve the complex relationship between private, semi-public, and public spaces that many Charleston neighborhoods accomplish so well without simply "re-tooling" the historic "Charleston Single House" type. To make this "all at once" development merge will with the surrounding neighborhood, strong connections between indoor and outdoor spaces in each house were developed as well as the small-scale details at the pedestrian sidewalk level. The residences also utilized contemporary construction techniques and materials such as cementitious siding, engineered lumber and metal clad windows, as a part of an effort to make the development more environmentally responsible.
The Result It is not solely by the mere replication of materials or historical forms that we feel arrives at an architecture which merges well with an existing context. It is more important that the overall composition is well thought out and honest in its expression of construction techniques. The prevalent connection to private gardens, hidden courtyards, back alleys, formal streets, and urban parks are similar idealistically rather than formally to the approach taken by more historical structures. As the development is nearing completion, it is already being referred to by city planners and officials as a model for contemporary development that addresses modern concerns while complimenting historic surroundings.

Coming and Morris | Residential Development

143 King George Street

This 2,600 square foot single family residence is located in the Daniel Island Park area of Charleston, South Carolina.  The traditional exterior massing and detailing is typical of Charleston’s Historic District.  The open floor plan and interior details reveal a more modern sensibility.  The porches and roofdeck allow a seamless connection to the outside from almost every room in the house.  Additionally, the large windows allow both an excellent quality of light into the interior as well as lovely views of the beautiful outdoor spaces.  


41 Pitt Street

This Gothic Revival style Plymouth Congregational Church (circa 1871) was transformed into a modern a living space.  Defined by Gothic arched double doors, original heart pine floors, bead board paneling, and fenestrations, the renovation reflects the history and patina of the original structure while respecting the historical fabric of its original state.
The Background The Plymouth Congregational Church, circa 1871, is located at 41 Pitt Street in historic downtown Charleston. Built in the Gothic Revival Style by African American Congregationalists who were experiencing new freedom after the Civil War, the church thrived at that location for more than a hundred years before moving to its new home west of the Ashley River. The vacant building soon fell into disrepair. After many years of neglect, in 1958, the building was sold to Charleston's Association for the Blind. Over the next forty years, the building suffered several horrific renovations. By the time, Bill and Julie Arnheim walked through it in 1997, the building was a mere shadow of its original grace, yet the Arnheims could easily see its potential as a living space. 
The Constraints After demolition and removal of the non-original interior walls and floor systems, the building was returned to an open, 35' x 64' box with a 30' ceiling at the ridge with six, 10' tall windows equally spaced down each side of the long walls.
The Challenge In one corner of the building, there was an 18"settling of the floor. This, coupled with major roof problems and countless other structural deficiencies, presented extreme challenges. The new design for the space included a large master bedroom/ bathroom/ closets/ sitting room suite, three guest bedrooms, two and a half additional bathrooms, a laundry room, reading area, music room, library, and potting room, all within the existing shell of the original church.
The transformation of a church into a home required the introduction of a second floor. The question became, 'how to gracefully introduce new spaces without losing the integrity of the original church?'
Removal of the ceiling revealed a previously hidden architectural element. At the peak of the ridge, 25' from the rear of the building, was a 6' mirrored, medallion. Originally designed to reflect light from a chandelier into the room, showcasing this "hidden" treasure in the public areas of the house, was integrated into the master plan.
The Solution A 15' tall, double lancet window was installed in an area in the front of the house that had been walled over many years earlier. A second floor mezzanine with music and reading areas was designed to look down upon the openness of the kitchen, living room, and dining areas while appreciating the drama of the 30' double volume space. The medallion works as a transition between the public and private areas of the home, and is accentuated by large, curved mahogany doors that open into the master bedroom on the first floor. The second floor bedrooms utilize the tops of the tall windows to introduce light and are acoustically sealed with insulated glass. The main first and second floor bathrooms were designed in the rear 'altar' space - symbolically and literally recalling a religious cleansing with water.
A 5' in diameter circle was cut into the second floor. A new stairwell was introduced directly beneath the medallion and a circular walled hallway was built. The medallion itself received a restored antique gothic style, circular chandelier and can be appreciated from all public spaces in the front of the house, while all bedrooms and baths are neatly tucked into the rear.
The Result The new design reflects the history and patina of the building while respecting the historical fabric of its original state. Large, wooden, gothic arched, double doors lead to original heart pine floors, bead board paneling, and fenestrations.
By transforming its original use as a place of prayer into a place of living with all of the modern amenities, style and grace, the Arnheims were able to save an architecturally valuable and beautiful historical property.

The Cottages at Longborough

The Cottages at Longborough is a 42 unit complex of multi-family housing.  The townhouse style two and three bedroom units are a collaboration between the City of Charleston and The Beach Company to provide well built, well styled, workforce priced housing.  The residences are located in the newly re-developed Longborough neighborhood within the Wagener Terrace of Charleston, South Carolina.  The buildings were designed to blend with the Craftsman detailing of the surrounding neighborhood.  Each unit has a private porch and entrance.  This project was selected as a finalist in the 2009 Jack Kemp Workforce Housing Models with the Urban Land Institute.

The Davidson Lofts

This project involved the renovation and addition of a 16,600sf portion of a 26,000sf mixed-use historic building in downtown Charleston on the corner King and George Street. The existing historic building was made up of several buildings that had been combined to form the old American Hotel.  Due to a large fire in it’s history, the entire roof structure had been replaced, and many of the thick brick walls separating the bays of the building had been damaged.  The existing 2nd floor space was being most recently used as10 office spaces.  

This project involved transforming the 2nd floor into 7 high-end condo units, using the rhythm of the existing bays of the old building and maintaining the two existing stair entries and a majority of the existing corridor from the historic hotel use.  A 3rd level was added in each to create loft spaces that overlook new roof decks.  

Special care was taken to retain historic details while adding modern features into the building. The 2nd floor had existing dramatic historic windows along it’s King and George Street elevations, which allowed for natural daylighting in each condo.  These windows were restored and replaced where necessary.  A detailed survey was done of each space to leave the brick exposed in locations where the historic brick had not been damaged by the fire. 

Modern details included lofts lined in glass to allow additional natural light to penetrate into the condos and give a modern feel within the historic fabric, steel stairs and private roof decks.  These roofscapes were all hidden behind the historic parapet of the building so that from the street view, the historic building remained unchanged.  Modern features such as an elevator and sprinkler system were also added to the building to create a safer and more accessible structure.

The result was 7 high end condos, each with private roof decks, in a unique historic building in the heart of downtown Charleston, South Carolina.



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Project Highlight Video

I’ve always dreamed of having a clean, modernist home, and I’m happy to say that Alice and her team at Atelier Cohen led the way to making that dream a reality! I couldn’t be more happy with the project, my house looks like it could be featured in a Kinfolk magazine. I expressed my wishes of having a clean, natural interior aesthetic and they truly delivered – the natural light in my newly designed home is to die for. They also helped me turn my dated, drab living room into a spacious and cozy space in which I can’t wait to host a party. I couldn’t recommend Alice more, if you’re looking for easy collaboration and top-notch design, you have to reach out to them!

I’ve worked with Alice on a few renovation projects and am still floored by her dedication to design and space planning. Never have I experienced a hiccup or missed communication with Atelier Cohen, and home projects tend to create those sorts of problems! They are professional, approachable, and innovative in a way that anyone with any level of home renovating or staging experience will feel like they are in good hands.

Alice’s eye, advice, and service is extremely rare in this business. If you get the chance to work with them, don’t think twice about it!

I had the pleasure of working with Alice on redecorating my childhood home that hadn’t been touched up since I was a teen in the 80’s. I knew it needed a huge refresh aesthetically, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I had a consultation with Alice about my hazy ideas and she was able to understand my tastes and needs after just one chat! The whole design process was so streamlined and thorough that my fears of things going awry totally vanished after the first few meetings. She walked me through every step of the process, from sharing sketches and moodboards to purchasing the final pieces of furniture and decoration. Working with Alice at Atelier Cohen has got to be my greatest investment, I highly recommend their services.

I’ve always dreamed of having a clean, modern farmhouse kitchen, and I’m happy to say that Maison Kitchen and Bath led the way to making that dream a reality! I couldn’t be more happy with the project, our kitchen looks like it could be the envy of Pinterest. I expressed my wishes of having a light, airy feel with natural but polished finishes, and they truly delivered – the kitchen in my home is to die for. They also helped me turn my claustrophobic galley kitchen into a beautiful open-space plan that makes me actually want to cook and entertain in the kitchen. I couldn’t recommend Maison K&B more, if you’re looking for easy collaboration and top-notch design, you have to reach out to them!

I’ve worked with Maison Kitchen and Bath on a few renovation projects and am still floored by their dedication to design and construction. Never have I experienced a hiccup or missed communication with them, and home projects tend to create those sorts of problems! They are professional, approachable, and innovative in a way that anyone with any level of home renovating experience will feel like they are in good hands.

Their advice and service through all stages of any project large or small is extremely rare in this business. If you get the chance to work with them, don’t think twice about it!

I had the pleasure of working with Maison Kitchen and Bath on renovating my childhood home that hadn’t been touched up since it was built in the 50’s. I’m quite environmentally minded, so I knew the appliances and electrical elements needed an update. I also knew it needed a bit of a refresh aesthetically, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I had a consultation with them about my hazy ideas and they were able to understand my tastes and needs after just one chat! The whole renovation process was so streamlined and thorough that my fears of things going awry totally vanished after the first few weeks. Working with Maison Kitchen and Bath has got to be my greatest investment, I highly recommend their services.

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I’ve always dreamed of having a clean, modernist home, and I’m happy to say that Haus Design + Build led the way to making that dream a reality! I couldn’t be more happy with the project, my house looks like it could be featured on Architecture Digest. I expressed my wishes of having high ceilings and large windows, and they truly delivered – the natural light in my new home is to die for. They also helped me turn my claustrophobic galley kitchen into a beautiful open-space plan that makes me actually want to cook and entertain in the kitchen. I couldn’t recommend Haus DB more, if you’re looking for easy collaboration and top-notch design, you have to reach out to them!

I’ve worked with Haus Design and Build on a few renovation projects and am still floored by their dedication to design and construction. Never have I experienced a hiccup or missed communication with them, and home projects tend to create those sorts of problems! They are professional, approachable, and innovative in a way that anyone with any level of home renovating experience will feel like they are in good hands.

Their advice and service through all stages of any project large or small is extremely rare in this business. If you get the chance to work with them, don’t think twice about it!

I had the pleasure of working with Haus Design + Build on renovating my childhood home that hadn’t been touched up since it was built in the 50’s. I’m quite environmentally minded, so I knew the appliances and electrical elements needed an update. I also knew it needed a bit of a refresh aesthetically, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I had a consultation with them about my hazy ideas and they were able to understand my tastes and needs after just one chat! The whole construction process was so streamlined and thorough that my fears of things going awry totally vanished after the first few weeks. Working with Haus DB has got to be my greatest investment, I highly recommend their services.

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