Editor’s note: The tour above is not a mere Realtor’s sales tool. Learn about the photographer’s process for capturing realistic, spatially accurate 3D house tours here.
“Whoever is writing the check gets to make the decisions,” says architect Heidi Hefferlin, AIA. The statement is both simple and profound. For Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects (HK), funding their own development work has helped reshape their home base of Chattanooga, Tenn., and elevated the firm’s design profile at the same time.
HK has focused its development activity in a part of the city called the Southside Historic District, not far from its office on E. Main Street. City skylines and mountain views distinguish the neighborhood, which is also easy walking distance to restaurants, pubs, and coffee shops. So far, the firm has contributed several small townhouse developments (one of which the married principals call home) to the area and now, the “Lay Low,” a single-family residence with multiple purposes and goals.
Chattanooga, is one of those small cities that often earns a spot on “best places to live” lists. Not only does it have some standout physical attributes—piedmont topography, nearby mountains, and a scenic river—it was the first city in that nation to have its own independent Gigabit-speed internet system. It’s considered a gateway to the deep south, located just a two-hour highway drive to Atlanta; Birmingham, Ala.; Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn. And it has its own bustling economy with various corporate headquarters, regional offices of major companies, some manufacturing and food production (“curiously strong” Altoid mints are made there), and a major campus of the University of Tennessee system, which provides a flow of educated workers. With these pluses, and the relative affordability of its housing and strong healthcare system, the city is poised for current and future growth.
Photo: Harlan Hambright
Opportunity Shop
Opening a checkbook here may not be such a bad gamble, after all. HK designed and developed 21 units of housing in the Southside and the principals have lived there for more than a decade. And they’re always on the lookout for new opportunities. As luck would have it, one presented itself just across the street from their townhouse. The owner of the Lay Low Lounge and Southside Beauty Shop, longtime gathering places for the area’s older African-American community, was ready to sell when Craig Kronenberg, AIA, stopped by one day.
The couple had been searching for a building that would allow Heidi’s parents to age in place comfortably and keep them nearby when they needed support and attention. The one-story building with on-grade entry seemed tailor made— given a little creative vision. However, we’re talking about HK, and they have more than a little vision at their command.
“I have older parents, and they made me promise never to put them in a nursing home,” says Heidi. “But they weren’t ready to move in just yet. So, we master planned it in phases. We designed it so we could run it as a vacation rental until they could use it.” (Tourism is a bustling business in the scenic town.)
Within the envelope of the 40-by-40-square-foot CMU building, they squeezed in 1,680 square feet of handicapped-accessible living space. There are three small bedrooms, two full baths (one with a no-threshold shower), a laundry area behind sliding barn doors, and a spacious great room opening to a covered porch. The truss roof system allowed the architects to remove and insert walls where they pleased. New thick walls flanking the porch and entry contain secure storage for visitors and house items.
“We tried to use everything we could about the building,” says Heidi. “We highly insulated the envelope by adding framing inside the block and spraying foam. We polished the concrete floor. It’s just a simple palette of materials. The kitchen cabinets are from IKEA.”
The kitchen island was a splurge, however, and serves as a focal point of the room. “The concrete counter with its built-in drain board was done by a local craftsman,” says Heidi. “The room needed a centerpiece. The rest is treated as a simple gallery space with no baseboards, and wall washers for the art.”
Foundry Objects
Yes, the palette is spare, but considerable warmth comes from the wood that clads the exterior and porch ceiling. Heidi and Craig already had that trick up their sleeve before they bought the building. They had salvaged wood and timbers from a foundry down the street, and stored them for the right application. “I like using reclaimed woods and natural materials to warm modern architecture,” says Heidi.
Set back from the street about 50 feet and wrapped in the aged wood, the recessed porch is lively and inviting—especially when the string lights are aglow at night—but still private. “People use the porch constantly,” says Heidi. “It’s not very visible, which makes it feel comfortable. It faces the side of our townhouse across the street, our detached garage, and the garden between.” The long-term plan is for the site to also accommodate another building at the front and a pool in between. “We got that idea from Morocco and Spain.”
Even if the elders are not yet occupying the dwelling, the Lay Low is a fully functioning family affair. Heidi and Craig’s son handles the online bookings, and they take turns stocking it with coffee, fruit, and oatmeal for paying or invited guests. Everyone is happy to see the Lay Low rise to new heights. And the firm, which does both traditional and modern work, is delighted to have another contemporary building to add to its portfolio. These are the good things that can happen when you write your own check.
Plans and Drawings
Project Credits
The Lay Low
Chattanooga, Tenn.
ARCHITECT/BUILDER/INTERIOR DESIGNER: Heidi Hefferlin, AIA, LEED AP, and Craig Kronenberg, AIA, Hefferlin + Kronenberg Architects, Chattanooga, Tenn.
CONTRACTOR: David Smith, David Smith Construction, Chattanooga
PROJECT SIZE: 1,680 square feet
SITE SIZE: .14 acre
CONSTRUCTION COST: $77.30 a square foot
PHOTOGRAPHY: Harlan Hambright
Key Products
WINDOWS AND DOORS: Kawneer
TUBULAR SKYLIGHTS: Solatube
CABINETRY: IKEA
KITCHEN APPLIANCES: Whirlpool, Ikea
FAUCETS: IKEA, American Standard
LIGHTING/LIGHTING CONTROL: Cree, Lutron
PAINTS AND STAINS: Sikkens, Sherwin-Williams