Grumman Porch
Upper Arlington, Ohio

2005 AIA Columbus Honor Award Recipient
2006 Builder's Choice Special Focus Recipient

A porch for all reasons

This "outdoor room" design implements materials not typically found in structures of its type. The ceiling and exposed wood framing are constructed of Ipe, a Brazilian hardwood that is durable and harvested from sustained forests. The floor is scored and stained concrete. Thick walls, used as structural elements and as a screening device, are built using ground face block - a concrete masonry product that is ground and polished to expose the aggregate. Steel beams support the roof framing and provide drainage. The roof is a combination of glass on the sloped side so as not to obstruct sunlight or views, and four unit skylights on the opposite side bring in additional light. Another key design element is the double-sided hearth built into the structure opening to both patio and garden while providing connecting sightlines between the two.

All photos are copyright 2005 by Feinknopf Photography