Inside Architect Patrick Ahearn’s Historic Wellesley Estate & Private Porsche Barn

A Country House Shaped by History

Ahearn’s Wellesley Hills home began as a country cottage designed by Royal Barry Wills in 1936. He acquired the property around 35 years ago and gradually expanded it with additions on either side and at the rear, as well as a two-storey carriage house. His approach was to imagine what Wills might have done with a larger brief. “If I was Royal Barry Wills and he was given a bigger program, what would he have done to really make this grand country house?” Ahearn explains. Having lived in the house for more than three decades, he has experienced it both as its architect and as a long-term home.

A Carriage House with a Purpose

One of the first additions was a secondary building, originally a single-storey garage built into the hillside. Ahearn added a second floor and lowered the rear yard by around six feet to create a driveway and additional parking. The original 1936 doors were retained, while new Swirl siding, still made in Canada, complements the character of the Wills house. The driveway is heated to cope with New England winters, allowing cars to reach the house safely without attaching the garage directly to it. “I was just enamored with the property and the topography and the opportunities to really make something special,” he says.

The Spaces Between the Buildings

As the house unfolds from the driveway, a series of courtyards, gardens and smaller structures reveals something new at every turn. The breakfast room opens onto a private courtyard enclosed by a lattice screen, while a path leads to a potting shed and another garden space inspired by a Parisian garden. Ahearn believes these spaces are just as important as the architecture itself. “The spaces between the buildings become as important as the buildings themselves,” he says. Hidden from the street, the courtyards offer intimate outdoor rooms that can be enjoyed throughout the seasons.

A Hidden Collection of Buildings

Beyond the main house, another parcel contains a barn, carriage house and small folly used as a home office. Together, they form what Ahearn describes as another “element of surprise.” The carriage house contains a four-car garage and two-bedroom apartment, with another apartment below, while the barn provides entertainment space, guest accommodation and a private area for Ahearn’s Porsche collection.

A Collection of Cars with Personal Stories

Cars have been part of Ahearn’s life since childhood. He recalls wanting to become either a car designer or an architect from around the age of five.

The Porsche Collection

The Porsche collection occupies the lower level of the barn. Among the cars is a 1958 Porsche Speedster in Fjord Green, a 1964 356 C Coupe that underwent a three-year restoration, and a 1993 911 with only 8,000 original miles. It is one of the last air-cooled 911s and has become highly sought after by collectors. Ahearn says he drives it less often as its value has increased, although he still takes it out for Sunday morning drives.

A Barn Built in a Day and a Half

The barn is one of the property’s most distinctive structures. Built with Amish craftsmen around ten years ago, it uses traditional post-and-beam construction with dowelled joints instead of nails or screws. The prefabricated structure was assembled remarkably quick. “Believe it or not, this whole building was put up in a day and a half with six people and sledgehammers,” Ahearn says. A large artist window brings southern light into the room throughout the year, while a substantial stone fireplace provides a warm focal point.

A Gathering Space for Family and Friends

Inside, the barn is designed for entertaining, with a large dining table, open kitchen and loft for additional guests. The space has become particularly important for holidays and larger family gatherings. “This became the gathering space for families and friends independent of the house” Ahearn explains. The kitchen is equipped with steam ovens, warming drawers, a built-in Sub-Zero refrigerator and a five-foot Wolf double oven, allowing food preparation to remain part of the social experience. “Everyone is engaged and everyone is part of it” he says.

From Country House to Boston Studio

Ahearn then heads into Boston to his studio on Newbury Street, where he has practiced architecture since graduating from architecture school in 1973 and opening his own office in 1978. The studio is organized around collaboration, with gathering areas, a conference room, kitchenette and individual offices. Despite the digital nature of modern practice, Ahearn continues to draw by hand in yellow trace before passing his ideas to the team. His career has included more than 400 buildings across Boston’s Back Bay, from historic renovations to new construction. “It’s been a great run and a ton of fun” he says.

A City House Above the Back Bay

Ahearn’s own apartment occupies the top floor of a Back Bay building on Marlborough Street. Added in 1928, the floor was completely renovated as his private city residence. With lower neighboring buildings, the apartment benefits from windows on four sides and natural light throughout the day. “It’s really like a house on top of a house” Ahearn says, describing its privacy and separation from the rest of the building.

Woodwork, Craftsmanship and Personal Details

The open-plan living, dining and kitchen area is defined almost entirely by woodwork and panelling. Four finish carpenters worked for four months to create the interiors, bringing the craftsmanship associated with Ahearn’s larger projects into the apartment.

A Private Roof Deck

A full staircase leads to the private roof deck, where views across Cambridge and downtown Boston form the backdrop for outdoor living. The terrace includes a barbecue area, dining and lounge spaces, lead-coated planters, irrigation and low-voltage lighting. A fire pit, stereo and provision for a television make the roof deck a true extension of the apartment. “It’s just magical” Ahearn says of the space in the evening.

A Lifelong Passion for Architecture

Across his country home, Boston studio and Back Bay apartment, Patrick Ahearn’s spaces reflect a respect for history, craftsmanship and the way people live. His collection of cars and his design of the outdoor spaces add another layer to the story. After more than five decades in practice, his work continues to show how thoughtful architecture can connect a home to its setting, its history and the life of the person who lives in it.

To learn more about Patrick Ahearn Architect and its residential projects, visit the firm’s website.

Website: https://patrickahearn.com/
Instagram: @patrickahearnarchitect