A deck restoration for today’s house of tomorrow
Located in Orange, Connecticut, the Henry F. Miller House (1948) is a landmark example of International Style—often described as mid-century modern—and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by Henry F. Miller as his Master of Architecture thesis at the Yale School of Architecture, the residence was among the region’s earliest modern homes. Upon completion, the New Haven Register heralded it as “The House of Tomorrow.”
Set on a wooded hillside, the design emphasizes clarity, function, and a strong connection to the landscape. An open floor plan with movable walls allows for flexible living, while a flat roof, minimal ornamentation, and carefully considered environmental strategies reflect core principles of modernist design. Expansive glass surfaces dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior, drawing light, views, and nature into the home.
After more than a half-century, the New England weather and its wooded location had taken its toll on the flat roof system and the original wood decks that cantilevered off and wrapped the backside of the home. CWA was hired to design a roof replacement with hidden gutters in 2012, and work continued through 2016 with a complete replacement of the rotted decking, supporting framing, and railing system. A main challenge of the balcony replacement was that the joists supporting it were cantilevered from the house. This required creative measures to tie the supporting deck joists back into the house without disrupting the minimalist design. Balcony details included a cable rail system suspended between tapered vertical supports.
The restored decks breathe new life to the outdoor space and provide a great enhancement to the indoor/outdoor living that was an integral part of the original design.
