Traveling east on Van Aken Boulevard,
whether by car or Rapid, you might be
forgiven for allowing the scenery to pass
by without much thought. On countless
occasions you’ve seen the mix of classic
Tudors and post-war Colonials that
morph into the brick apartments and
condominiums as you get closer to the
end of the line at the Van Aken District.
Then a burst of red catches your eye
WWW.SHAKER.LIFE | SUMMER 2020 39
on the left. Just a streak, just enough
THE
REED/
LESKOSKY
HOUSE
to get your attention. Is that new? It can’t be new, and it can’t be in
Shaker Heights, can it? But it is – and it’s very much Shaker Heights.
The passing glance may read “modern,” but quickly you see the
classic Shaker Heights elements: the three-part stucco, just like on the
century house next door; the shingle-style siding seen on many of the
neighborhood’s Colonials; and the graceful chimney mirroring the same
lines of the neighboring house. Inspired by the classic New England
Saltbox Colonial, with its asymmetrical sloping roofline, one corner has
been carved away for a screened motor court, a classic feature seen on
many of the homes on Parkland Drive around the corner.
This outward simplicity, or at least the perception of simplicity,
belies the complexity of its context: how it fits into its surroundings,
the neighborhood, and the culture of the larger community.
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