Nash Waters Architecture

Nash Waters Architecture We are a team of rigorous and determined architects and designers that believe in the potential for architecture to transform the way we live.

Princeton Cottage | An unfolded section drawing reveals elements of the once cramped cottage that have been transformed ...
03/03/2026

Princeton Cottage | An unfolded section drawing reveals elements of the once cramped cottage that have been transformed through an unsuspecting section. Utilitarian spaces compress for bathing, sleeping, and cooking and then open and flow into one another for a continuous social experience.

The design creates a seasonally responsive section. New large windows and skylights bring natural light deep into the space, limiting the need for artificial lighting and warming the space during winter months. Vaulted ceilings with operable skylights for cross and stacked ventilation allow air to flow throughout the entire house, reducing energy consumption for active cooling. The lower level is partially submerged into the hillside where the constant temperature of the earth naturally keeps the space thermally comfortable.

Keeping within the home’s existing footprint, clever remodeling of internal walls improves room configurations and movement through the space. New internal openings create spatial connections between rooms and maximize views of the surrounding forest. Natural light is invited deep into the house via dramatic skylights. A new raw, yet refined, interior pays homage to the original home and owner.

designnj princetonnj warmmodernism cottagearchitecture moderncottage sustainabledesign

Architecture & Interiors by
Section by
Image by

Concealed Work | This week we’ve been thinking about the notion of concealed work and the idea that a single polished im...
02/19/2026

Concealed Work | This week we’ve been thinking about the notion of concealed work and the idea that a single polished image reflects an enormous amount of labor through design thinking, endless effort, coordination, and ingenuity.

Sometimes it starts with an elegant idea - a loose sketch. We then have to reverse engineer its inner workings. To do this, we develop detailed 3D models and construction drawings that document these once intuitive decisions into thoughtful precision.

Architecture is a collaborative discipline. We work closely with our consultants, builders, and fabricators, who are clever and creative in their own right.

At our recently completed Engawa House, the island was designed to accommodate a multitude of contrasts: natural light and views but privacy; warm and welcoming but protected; abundant storage but open; compact but large working and serving surfaces.

02/13/2026

Engawa House is defined by it’s reconfigured orientation toward natural light and the landscape of the rear yard. Previously a dark, introverted house, it has become an open yet comfortable home, creating a spatial release and interconnected relationship between interior and exterior spaces.

12/23/2025

Happy Holidays from Nash Waters | Architecture! Wishing you a warm and joyful holiday season.

Princeton Cottage by
Original Image by

Princeton Cottage | Keeping within the home’s existing footprint, clever remodeling of internal walls improves room conf...
11/10/2025

Princeton Cottage | Keeping within the home’s existing footprint, clever remodeling of internal walls improves room configurations and movement through the space. New internal openings create spatial connections between rooms and maximize views of the surrounding forest. Natural light is invited deep into the house through large picture-frame windows and dramatic skylights.

The materials used throughout are natural, tactile, and sustainable—timber slabs from fallen trees on the property, milled for floors, cabinets, and a large gathering island —and hand-troweled cement plaster, zellige tile, and brick were chosen not only for their beautiful aesthetics but also for their durability.

Sustainable features were prioritized to reduce the environmental footprint, including reusing the existing structure, embracing the embodied carbon, along with new features such as high-performance insulation and windows, passive heating and cooling strategies, a hydronic heating system, and zoned cooling, energy-efficient electric appliances, solar panels, and a greywater treatment system that feeds into the vegetable garden.

This renovation brings new life to the 75-year-old home while respecting the memory of its original owner. The result is a home that is not only a place of artistic inspiration and retreat but also a celebration of nature, creativity, and sustainability.



Architecture & Interiors by

Images by

Bucolic House | Full-height windows fold into skylights, drawing daylight deep into the home while framing ever-changing...
10/06/2025

Bucolic House | Full-height windows fold into skylights, drawing daylight deep into the home while framing ever-changing views of the landscape and sky.

Sustainability | The design balances openness with performance. External solar shades at both skylights and windows reduce heat gain in summer while allowing the low winter sun to warm the interiors. Triple-glazing and operable openings ensure the space breathes and is flooded with light, yet thermally comfortable.

The architecture responds to its unique setting where comfort, climate, and connection to nature coexist.



Architecture & Interiors:

Photography:

Summit House | Balancing a historic home with contemporary daily life and large social gatherings, the kitchen details a...
09/17/2025

Summit House | Balancing a historic home with contemporary daily life and large social gatherings, the kitchen details and materials needed to be both durable and beautiful. Bespoke detailing such as custom moulding and range hood surround, stone backsplash and floating shelf, brass fixtures, and custom solid oak with brass mesh wall panels to conceal bulky radiators convey the craft, precision, and care that define the space.



Architecture & Interiors by

Summit House | Kitchen islands have changed the way we think about kitchens, homes, and even social life. Since kitchens...
09/05/2025

Summit House | Kitchen islands have changed the way we think about kitchens, homes, and even social life. Since kitchens have evolved from a purely service space to the social center of homes, the island has become an anchor for the space, creating clear circulation paths and often defining zones (cooking, prep, seating) without the use of walls. The design for our Summit House kitchen island rests somewhere between a sculptural object and utilitarian piece of furniture that contains an 11+ foot long working surface, seating, storage, and appliances.



Architecture & Interiors by

Princeton Cottage | A once cramped cottage is transformed through an unsuspecting section. Utilitarian spaces compress f...
09/02/2025

Princeton Cottage | A once cramped cottage is transformed through an unsuspecting section. Utilitarian spaces compress for bathing, sleeping, and cooking and then open and flow into one another for a continuous social experience.

The design creates a seasonally responsive section. New large windows and skylights bring natural light deep into the space, limiting the need for artificial lighting and warming the space during winter months. Vaulted ceilings with operable skylights for cross and stacked ventilation allow air to flow throughout the entire house, reducing energy consumption for active cooling. The lower level is partially submerged into the hillside where the constant temperature of the earth naturally keeps the space thermally comfortable.

The cottage sits on vast and verdant lot in Princeton, New Jersey. Rather than increasing the floor area of the existing structure, the owners opted for quality over quantity, flexible and generous living, a place that is measured in joy and delight rather than square footage and amenities.

The approach of contextual sensitivity transforms the 75-year old structure into a home that feels like it belongs in the forest clearing.



Architecture & Interiors by

Image by

Princeton Cottage | Idiosyncratic details such as articulated corners, shelves, ledges, and nooks are incorporated throu...
08/13/2025

Princeton Cottage | Idiosyncratic details such as articulated corners, shelves, ledges, and nooks are incorporated throughout the interior to display the couple’s extensive collection of art, books, and plants. The home is designed to foster a deep connection with nature, providing an immersive experience of the changing light and seasons through views of the tree canopy and the open sky.

The balance between a comfortable interior for living and a wilder exterior landscape prioritizes natural light, curated views, and thoughtful transitions between interior and exterior spaces.



Architecture & Interiors by
Image by

Princeton Cottage | The cottage sits on a vast and verdant lot in Princeton, New Jersey. While the borough is known for ...
08/11/2025

Princeton Cottage | The cottage sits on a vast and verdant lot in Princeton, New Jersey. While the borough is known for the Ivy League university and picturesque downtown, a couple passionate about gardening and the arts were drawn to the landscape on the periphery.

The home, once the studio of a late artist, had fallen into disrepair and required extensive renovations and repairs. The couple’s vision for the space was to transform the cottage into an artist’s retreat, a sanctuary that would serve as both a private home and a venue for small social gatherings, including live music performances, dance, and other creative endeavors.

The design opens the house to its natural surroundings while maintaining a balance between a comfortable interior for living and a wilder exterior landscape. We prioritized natural light, curated views of the landscape, and thoughtful transitions between interior and exterior spaces.

The design preserves the existing footprint of the cottage, maintaining the structure’s original charm, while reconfiguring the layout to better serve its new purpose of creating a sense of connection between people and place.



Architecture & Interiors:
Sketch by
Image by

Address

Cranford, NJ
07016

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Nash Waters Architecture posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Nash Waters Architecture:

Shortcuts

Share

Category