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The Mouse House was originally built as a carriage house around 1900. Olga Hirshorn was the widow of Joesph Hirshorn, who accumulated one of the largest art collections of the 20thcentury and whose collection filled 197,000 sq. ft. in the Hirshorn Museum in Washington, DC. Olga used the Mouse House as her pied-a-terre and fit her personal art treasures into this 500 sq. ft. Beaux Arts Carriage house that was used to house the first electric cars. This architectural gem was designed  by Paul J Pelz, architect of the US Library of Commerce.

There was an original wooden arbor attached to the building that was damaged by severe storms and was quite dilapidated. Compass reviewed the architecture of the Mouse House and designed a very precise structure to be harmonious and to fit within the confines of the space.

An Aircraft Grade Aluminum was specified with the intent of having a verdigris copper look. All commercial paint or powder-coated finishes had too consistent a look. So the craftsmen utilized an outside-the-box approach with a 4-step process that was able to have more of a natural and weathered look that mimicked the aged copper roof on the Mouse House.

The Mouse House had some interesting architectural elements: the soldier limestone parapets at the eaves, a unique limestone frame window, and the vertical lines of limestone and brick masonry. These were all incorporated into the design.

The site challenges presented a radial dormer intersecting into the roof angle and the complexity of the various walls. The design was to have the pergola canopy disappear, so a commercial grade acrylic was utilized to provide years of coverage from the elements. Another ingenious attribute was to utilize the structural post as downspouts providing a very clean and uncluttered structure throughout.

“The lucid structure almost disappears in its environment and, unlike wood, it will withstand the passage of time,” says the client. “Compass did a flawless job in capturing surrounding décor, implementing a great design, and executing the entire structure with finesse and detail. Hats off to these passionate craftsmen.”

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We love our front porch railings! They certainly add a lot of beauty to our home and they fit the period of our home. When elderly guests come to visit, it’s always good that they have something strong to hold onto, and they fit perfectly what we were looking for. Thanks to everyone on your team for their artistic work. We are very happy with our final products!

Indiana Cleint

Compass delivered absolutely amazing, high quality product. They are true masters.  I am also pleased with their timely communication and guidance, as we worked through the design and transaction process. 

I would definitely recommend them and work with them again.

Wisconsin Client

What an excellent experience we had with Compass Ironworks!! We have spent four years restoring and remodeling a Pre-Civil War home in North Alabama. We have learned a lot through the process and made more than a few mistakes. But choosing Compass Ironworks was not one of those. From the very first interaction, Amos and his team have been a pleasure to work with. Old homes are quirky! No right angles. No two measurements are precisely the same. So using a company in Pennsylvania was a risk. And we are SO GLAD we took that risk! Absolutely flawless!! The designs, the collaboration, the execution, the QUALITY, the timeline and the finished product were all first class!!! We will absolutely choose Compass again for our next project and recommend them to anyone who asks.

Alabama Designer

The railing is installed and is beautiful … a work of art, to be sure!

My expectations were high and certainly met. I was able to visit the shop and see the railing in progress. It was a thrill to see it then, and very exciting when it arrived at my home.

I have already recommended you to others!

Massachusetts Client
Front entrance metal gate