Firehouse Conversion

A modern wood cabin in a forest setting with large windows and a wooden exterior. The house features a sloped roof and an entryway. Surrounded by trees and nature.
Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and decorative shelves displaying pottery. A rustic wooden bowl sits on the island with leather chairs, and a framed portrait hangs on the wall.

Adaptive Reuse, Remodel, Addition, Energy Retrofit

TYPE: Adaptive Reuse: Conversion of Fire Station to Residence, Addition, Energy Retrofit

SIZE: 2508 SF

LOCATION: Nevada City Area, Northern California

DATE: 2017

DESIGNER: Mela Breen & Jeff Adams (ADB alumnus) | Atmosphere Design Build

CONTRACTOR: Owner-Builder

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Mark Jokerst, SE

MECHANICAL: Balance Point Home Performance

PUBLICATION: Houzz.com: Renovation Breathes New Life into a Fire Station

Photography: Kat Alves

Black and white photo of a partially constructed garage with people
House under construction with Tyvek wrap, surrounded by trees, ladder leaning against the front, building materials scattered around.
Black and white image of a rustic barn surrounded by tall trees in a forested area.
Construction of a garage with ladders and materials outside

Located outside Nevada City at 4000 feet in elevation, our client bought a decommissioned firehouse with the intent of turning the building into his residence. When one envisions an old fire station – the image of aging bricks, bell towers, and fire poles might be called forth. This fire station, however, lacked the charm the name suggests and was essentially a large garage for fire engines.  We decided to subtly evoke the typology of the firehouse in the conversion as a nod to the building's previous life, while re-imagining the interior as a loft-style residence with a spacious, open floor plan.

A modern wooden house with solar panels on the roof, surrounded by trees. It features large glass doors and a pile of firewood beside the entrance, with a gravel driveway in front.

The retrofit design uses minimal partitions and two small, strategically placed additions to provide a versatile, three-bedroom residence. To create the upstairs bedroom and flex space, the back half of the original ventilated attic was removed and re-framed as a vaulted ceiling. The two large roll up garage door openings were converted into south facing windows with steel surrounds for shading and as a playful memory of the original garage doors. A new chimney between the two south windows recalls the bell towers seen on older, classic firehouses. This feature is repeated at the north end of the building as an elongated clerestory to bring much-needed daylight into the attic bedroom.

Modern living room with large ceiling fan, wood stove, eclectic furniture, and large windows.
Modern interior with a wooden staircase, wicker basket, patterned wall hanging, and scenic window view.
Kitchen shelves with assorted ceramic dishes, plates, bowls, and glassware. Countertop with various pottery and a large decorative plate in earth tones.

The remodeled structure also underwent an energy retrofit to create a comfortable, low energy use building. All the walls and roof were re-insulated and the existing slab was built over with a vapor barrier and rigid insulation. Detailed air sealing was undertaken and new windows were outfitted throughout the home. A 5.5 kW roof-mounted photovoltaic system offsets nearly all of the home's electrical consumption.  Salvaged wide plank, Southern yellow pine flooring stretches out throughout the house — milled from old bleachers (caked in gum on one side), which the owner scored on Craig's List.

A living room with large windows, a wood-burning stove, two people sitting, wooden chairs, a glass table, and a cozy ambiance. The room has modern decor and natural light.
Modern kitchen with granite island, leather stools, stainless steel refrigerator, wooden decor, and open shelves with teapots and bowls.
Interior hallway with two wooden doors, a wooden shelf with a potted plant, and a pair of sandals on the floor.
A modern bathroom with beige tiles, a white bathtub, and three small windows. There's a glass-enclosed shower area with a stone bench and a decorative lantern on a marble shelf.