Perched atop a 19th-century South End building like a modern temple in the sky, Urban Aerie was conceived as a forever home for a client seeking to age in place with sophistication and ease. Blending post-modern expression with antique architectural influences, the penthouse addition creates a powerful yet ethereal presence above the historic streetscape.
Expansive ribbon windows and metal-framed doors frame sweeping panoramic views of Boston while filling the interior with light. Drawing from the character of the original structure, the design balances grounded materiality with contemporary interventions that reflect a new vision for 21st-century urban rooftop living.
Constructing atop an existing historic roof required careful coordination and inventive problem-solving. To protect the building during demolition, the team developed a temporary rubber-lined “bathtub” system paired with tapered insulation and EPDM roofing to maintain a watertight seal throughout construction.
The addition’s distinctive clerestory roof is supported by curved glulam members, helping balance structural integrity with the weight constraints of rooftop construction. A new cylindrical glass elevator and a sculptural cable-rail stair seamlessly connect the original penthouse level to the new rooftop retreat, creating an accessible and visually dynamic transition between old and new.
Architecture LDa Architecture & Interiors
Interior Design LDa Architecture & Interiors
Builder Adams + Beasley Associates
Photography Anna Julia Sacknowitz
Photography (Process) Andy Riley
IFDA-NE Awards 2025 Best Residential Specialty Architecture Project