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Conceptual review: owner seeks dormers and rear addition at 396 Linden Walk; board raises scale and roofline concerns
Summary
A conceptual review for a rear addition and new dormers at 396 Linden Walk drew board comments about roof forms, dormer proportions and the visual relationship between the proposed volumes and the existing cottage form.
The Board of Architecture Review conducted a conceptual review for proposed work at 396 Linden Walk, where the owners plan to demolish a rear addition, construct a modest two‑story rear addition with a covered porch and add two gable dormers to create additional upper‑floor space.
The applicant’s architect, Paul Lee of Studio A Architecture, said the project aims to preserve the front appearance while adding usable bedrooms above by opening up attic space and installing dormers with egress windows. Staff characterized the review as conceptual and identified issues for future submittals including compatibility of roof pitches, proportion of openings, and whether new construction relates in scale and rhythm to adjacent buildings.
Board members said the rooftop treatment appeared busy and urged simplification of rooflines and dormer configurations, and asked the applicant to consider whether the proposed stair and deck arrangement could be refined to reduce prominence. The board emphasized preserving the visual primacy of the house’s original massing at the street.
Because this was a conceptual review, the board gave feedback rather than a decision and invited the applicant to return with refined drawings that simplify roof forms, reduce perceived massing and better relate dormer proportions to the main house.
