Dreier: Restored to it's Modernist 1970s Charm, Now with a Porsche Garage

ARCHITECTURE

Architect: Magnin Architecture
Location: Reno, NV
Photographer: Nick Sorrentino

The Dreier project begins with a restored 1970s modernist home, originally designed by Swiss architect Eduard Dreier. The work starts with preservation, returning the structure to its original condition before anything new is introduced.

From there, the project expands with purpose. A growing Porsche collection called for additional space, leading to the addition of a detached garage and ADU positioned at the edge of the property. Rather than stand apart, the new structures extend the language of the original home, bringing the cars into closer proximity with daily life.

The project began with the restoration of the original Dreier residence. The original exterior mahogany was sanded and refinished, while the anodized aluminum windows and vertical siding were carefully cleaned and preserved. The process was less about updating and more about returning the structure to its intended state.

With additional parcels acquired alongside the home, the opportunity emerged to expand the property. The brief centered on two needs: additional garage space for a growing Porsche collection, and a separate living area for family and guests.

The design process began with a close reading of the original hand-drawn plans. Rather than introducing a contrasting structure, the new garage and ADU were developed as a continuation of the existing architecture.

Material palette, rooflines, plan geometry, and proportions were carried through, allowing the new structure to sit naturally within the site, an approach seen in other projects where a detached garage addition extends the architectural language of the main residence. The result is a garage that feels less like an addition and more like a piece of the original composition.

Sited at the terminus of the home’s cul-de-sac driveway, the garage occupies a transitional point between steep terrain and open views. To the west, a rock slope defines the edge of the site. To the east, the land falls away, opening toward the Virginia Range, with Mt. Rose visible beyond.

This positioning shapes how the garage is approached and used. Cars move through the site with a clear sense of arrival, transitioning from the landscape into a controlled, enclosed environment designed for both storage and visibility.

Make no mistake, this is a Porsche garage. The layout is built around real use, with space organized to support both storage and full access to each car. A pair of BendPak AutoStacker lifts expand capacity without compromising usability.

Vehicles can be moved, accessed, and maintained without disruption, reinforcing the space as a true working garage rather than a static display.

Above, the ADU introduces a secondary layer of use. An open loft sits above the kitchen and bath, framed by floor-to-ceiling glazing that brings in light and views from both levels. The relationship between garage and living space remains close, but clearly defined.

What defines the Dreier garage is not contrast, but continuity.

Every decision, from material selection to form and siting, works toward a singular goal: to extend the original architecture without disrupting it. The garage becomes part of the broader composition, shaped by both the legacy of the original design and the practical needs of the collection it now supports.

Recognized with awards for sustainable design excellence and as a Mountain Home Award recipient, the project reflects a careful balance between preservation, adaptation, and use over time.

1277 W 7th St, Ste AReno, NV 89503
United States
www.magninarchitecture.com/