This 5th Ave. Apple Store-esque extension was added to a humdrum McMansion, giving it not only additional space but loads of light. In this case, I think the addition was a success, and added value, especially because it's in the rear of the house and doesn't appear to be visible from the street. But, often I see modern additions going up on older, period homes that don't take into account the history of the space, and I cringe a little. If you own a historic Victorian or even 20th-century Colonial, why not hire an architect who can build something to coordinate? If a modern home is really what you want, why not sell your country cottage and buy one instead? I know things are never as straightforward as that, and there are a lot of factors involved when you're considering buying, selling, and renovating. But sometimes I worry that we'll look at our landscape in 50 years and realize that Mr. Potato Head or Frankenstein may have actually been city planners. Do you agree, or is my thinking just hopelessly traditional?
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