A playful strategy to this family home evolved through the careful 'collaging' of simple architectural elements derived from the existing neighborhood. The entrance canopy refers to the metal canopy common to post-war homes; the corner window treatment references adjacent rent-controlled housing; the stair tower is inspired by the chimney of the local school; and the distinctive, projecting 'light box' windows allude to a local place of worship. Determined to keep the house reflective of its family, the design includes a 'family ritual space'-an intimate environment for social gatherings small or large, and the owners' integrated castings of their children's hands as a feature on the stairway. This element served to capture, for the owners, a particular juncture in their family's history.