Emma C. Lee House

Featured in Savannah Magazine’s Summer Homes edition and honored with a Preservation Award from the Savannah Historic Foundation, this project offers a thoughtful balance of restoration and contemporary intervention within Savannah’s Victorian District.

Originally constructed in 1913 by M.M. Stewart and purchased a year later by Mrs. Emma C. Lee, the home had been left vacant for over thirty years, its structure deteriorating and its future uncertain. Now named in honor of its early owner, the project reclaims the home’s place in the neighborhood fabric through a respectful architectural response that bridges its past and present.

Spanning 3,200 square feet, the program includes four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms, along with a carriage house containing a two-car garage and one-bedroom apartment, designed to accommodate both daily living and visiting guests. The new work sits quietly within the historic streetscape, responding to its context through careful attention to scale, proportion, and material.

Externally, the project involved restoring the home to its original footprint, with a subtle recess in the façade delineating the contemporary addition, breezeway courtyard connector, and carriage house beyond. Materials were chosen to respect the home's heritage and echo the historic language including horizontal cladding scaled to the original and contemporary casement windows that mirror the proportions of the original.

Internally, the design prioritizes spatial clarity and material honesty. The interiors are characterized by a restrained palette of natural materials and warm tones, creating a serene atmosphere that complements the architectural integrity of the home. Each space is thoughtfully composed to foster a sense of calm and continuity, with careful attention to proportion and light. Just as the exterior expresses the delineation between past and present, a walnut-wrapped threshold inside the home marks a deliberate and tactile transition between eras.

The project stands as a reflection of Savannah’s layered past, offering a respectful yet contemporary contribution to the fabric of the Victorian District. The integration of modern amenities is achieved without compromising the home's historic character, ensuring a living environment that is both functional and evocative of its storied past.