Penn State University Libraries - The Hajjar I House

Hajjar's first home in State College was for his own family. Except for being located on a flat lot, the house exhibits many of the characteristics that were to become his hallmarks. Most basic is a two-story shoebox which is connected to a garage with a breezeway set at right angles to the house.

The roof is low-pitched and the main entrance is hidden to the side (although here not through the breezeway, as would become more common). Also here, Hajjar constructed a privacy wall in front of the breezeway.

Strategically placed windows light the entryway and focus the eye through various paths throughout the house. This includes his use of interior windows to spread light from one room or area into another. There was also a central fireplace in the main living area.

Two major additions have been made; the first is an additional bedroom atop the breezeway.

The second major addition was the extension of the living room to the rear. The fireplace is now freestanding.

The hidden main entrance has a floor-to-ceiling window adjacent to the door. Hajjar nearly always used such entry treatments.

This right-front view of the house reveals the screened porch hidden in the breezeway. Hajjar shifted his main entrance to this location in many later houses.

A picture window at the end of the dining area over-looks a small patio in front of the breezeway. Below the window is a built-in bench.

A powder room leading from the dining area is still in its original color.

The kitchen area has been completely remodeled, but the layout is unchanged. The front of the house is to the left; the dining area is behind.

A private bath leads from the master bedroom, highly uncommon for the time and not generally used in other Hajjar designs.

A built-in bookcase is at the top of the stairs. Hajjar later used open risers and railing.

At the bottom of the landing of the stairs to the lower level is an interior light window which can even be opened. Now used as a game room, the area was formerly used by Hajjar as a work room for his (often student) employees.

The lower interior light window is shown from the workroom side. Perhaps the sliding glass panels were opened to serve as an internal communications system to persons on upper floors. Hajjar's office was opposite the stairwell on the same level.

This is Hajjar's original built-in desk. Obviously, he did not do working drawings in this space. Often he produced 8.5 x 14 inch sketches from which he had others produce working drawings.

A lamppost marks the path to the main entrance, which otherwise is rather hidden.

Inside the main entrance, stairs lead to the lower and upper levels of the house. There is abundant natural lighting in the area.