Renovated in 2008, this Ruxton house represents one of the most striking before-and-after transformations in SM+P’s portfolio — from a clumsy, poorly clad barn-like structure into a handsomely proportioned private residence in the Dutch Colonial style prevalent in many of Baltimore’s older neighbourhoods. The project demonstrates one of the most challenging aspects of residential architecture: taking a building that does not work and transforming it into one that feels considered, coherent, and characteristic of its setting.