The Hewn House

Modern Takes On Traditional

Words by Sam Lauron Photos by Charles Davis Smith

Matt Fajkus wants to make one thing clear about modern homes: they aren’t just simple boxes. His namesake architecture firm adheres to the concept of Modernism, which means their projects are much deeper than the stereotypical imagery of stark lines and cold interiors that the word “modern” typically conjures up. 

The opposite of Classicism in which symmetry and traditional forms are standard, Modernism encourages function over form. In the realm of architecture, the objective of Modernism is to focus first on the way the home will function in terms of the physical site as well as the homeowner’s lifestyle. 

Matt states that rather than conforming to a specific design style, he, his partner Sarah Johnson, and their team apply Modernism and sustainability to each of their projects, with their overall approach being to “suit the needs of what’s there and let the form emerge from it.” To do this, they focus on a number of factors, the main one being site context. After examining elements like the slope of the lot, surrounding trees, solar angles, and even the neighborhood at large, they work with these parameters—rather than against them—to build a framework for the final form.  

Designing the Space

Take the Hewn House, for example. Designed to imitate a cabin, the original inspiration for the house was the homeowner’s rustic home state of Maine. Similarly, the aptly-named project is a reference to the term “hewn” which means to chop wood into a certain shape or angle. In order to fit in with the physical parameters of the lot as well as the context of the neighborhood, Matt notes that the home was nicknamed Hewn House because they saw it as “somewhat of a wood block that had been carved in a specific way to fit within the trees and the lot.” While the firm took the homeowner’s desired style into account, what ultimately informed the overall design was the site itself. 

On the lot of the Hewn House sit two structures: the main house and an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in the back. One challenge the design team had to tackle was determining a way to fit both structures into the allotted space while retaining enough privacy for each. This is when the context of the site guided their design choices. “The trees made it very clear that there was an obvious place where the two structures needed to fit,” Matt says. He adds that though the structures are meant to be separate spaces, they wanted to make sure there was a relationship between the two units, “as though they were part of the same family, but still different enough to feel like their own space.”

Getting Creative

The cabin motif is also present in the interior of the main house, seen in the vaulted wood ceilings which follow the slope of the roof and the brick fireplace that acts as an inviting centerpiece. But while the wood that wraps the body of the house is knotted and rustic, the interior elements are smoother and more refined, with brighter walls and polished cement floors. “The lighter interior design choices represent an intentional effort to maximize the amount of natural light available,” Matt explains. “Because there are neighbors close by on all three sides, including the ADU, you can’t open up [the space] or else you compromise privacy.” To work around this, the team employed the strategic use of clerestory windows that overlook a canopy of trees—another cabin-like element that not only adds privacy but also makes the house feel tucked away within the density of its surroundings.

With all projects the firm takes on, as evidenced by the Hewn House, any obstacle a site throws their way is just another chance to get creative. Matt smiles, “We like to see challenges as opportunities.”

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