The Hat House

The Hat House is a renovation project in Nashville, Tennessee, in the United States. Originally a 1950s single-storey brick house, it was transformed by the architect Michael Goorevich into a contemporary home combining rustic charm with modernity. The main intervention consisted in reshaping the existing mansard roof, nicknamed the “hat”, and clading it in FSC® certified Kebony wood, known for its durability and its natural appearance. The material was extended to the window surrounds, the cladding, the soffits and the insect screens, creating visual coherence across the whole facade. The interior was subtly modernised with white oak joinery, linking the various living spaces harmoniously. This renovation, respectful of the original architecture, won the Hat House the AIA Tennessee design excellence award in 2021, recognising an approach that enhances what is already there while adapting it to contemporary needs.