920 Oakwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27601

Distinct modern home in downtown Raleigh. The floor plan has an intentional arrangement, with public spaces and a guest bedroom on the lower level, and private spaces – family room and resident bedrooms – upstairs. The family room and master bedroom anchor each end of the second floor, with views to the north and south respectively, and are connected by a light-filled corridor adjacent to the stair. The stair and utility spaces are against the wall and skylights and selective recesses ensure that the wall invites light and space. These articulations balance the effect of this mass on the exterior, and break up the form of the 2-story, 75ft long brick wall. The second-floor volume has overhangs at each end, creating a covered porch on the north, looking out over the cemetery, and a covered south-facing patio for children’s toys and family gathering. Even with its distinct modern aesthetic, the house fits well with its neighbors – a similarly proportioned contemporary home, and several colorful and playful historic row houses. The Spyglass House was designed by Nick Hammer Architecture, and built by Jonathan Graban of J.W. Builders of North Carolina.