Nestled in a secluded mountaintop location is the captivating Contemporary Mountaintop Escape. Complementing its natural surroundings, the 2,955 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence captures the panoramic view of the skyline and offers high-quality finishes with modern interior design. The exterior features a timber frame porch, standing seam metal roof, custom chimney cap, Barnwood siding, and a glass garage door. Reclaimed timber derived from the homeowner’s family farmhouse is incorporated throughout the structure. It is decoratively used on the exterior as well as on the interior accent walls and ceiling beams. Other central interior elements include recessed lighting, flush baseboards, and caseless windows and doors. Hickory engineered flooring is displayed upstairs, and exposed concrete slab and foundation walls complement the downstairs decor. The rustic and luxurious great room offers a wood-burning fireplace with an onsite extricated boulder hearth, reclaimed timber ceiling beams, a full reclaimed accent wall, and a charming stucco chimney. The main floor also exhibits a reclaimed, sliding barn door to enclose the in-home office space. The kitchen is situated near the great room and is defined by stainless steel appliances that include a Thermador refrigerator/freezer, an induction range, and a coordinating farmhouse sink. Other standout features are leathered granite countertops, floating reclaimed timber shelves, and stunning ebony-colored drawers. The home’s lower level provides ideal accommodations for hosting family and friends. It features a spacious living area with access to a multi-purpose mudroom complete with a kitchen. This level also includes two guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. All bedrooms, including the master bedroom, have caseless windows and doors, floating reclaimed shelves, and flush baseboards. The master bathroom showcases a modern floating vanity with boulder vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, and large format floor tile.

GARRISON 1-51 The Garrison is a sculptural iron casting intended for use a stool or side table. It recycles steel salvaged from the 2015 demolition of the namesake Garrison bridge near Toronto’s Fort York. True to STACKLAB’s ethos, however, the Garrison’s shape is not intended to be a formal representation or memorialization of any of the bridge’s attributes. Instead, the Garrison exemplifies STACKLAB’s mission to emphasize that all material matters. Discarded or waste materials are repurposed in a way that imbues them with new life and meaning. Its form was derived using digital real-time parametric design and fabrication technology. STACKLAB optimized the product to be as light and strong as possible: the Garrison’s 35-lb. weight can support a load of 900 lbs. STACKLAB and its partnering firm Rebart procured two tons of bridge rebar, enough to release a limited-edition run of 102 units. STACKLAB designed the Garrison to be sand-cast and engineered the pattern (used to generate sand moulds) so that small manufacturing defects, typical of this process, would only appear at the tip of the piece. Units 1 to 51 have a thermally applied 1/16” solid bronze coating in this location, which ameliorates these defects. This coating turns units that may have been discarded into premium ones, enabling a near-100-percent yield out of the run. The sand-casting process produces faintly perceptible irregularities that enhance the Garrison’s tactility. Garrison 1-51 is available exclusively at Maison Gerard. Type Stool, Side Table Year 2015 Dimensions 16” W x 14” D x 18” H Materials Cast Iron and Bronze Design Collaborators Rebart Photography: Patrick Thompson

Nestled in a secluded mountaintop location is the captivating Contemporary Mountaintop Escape. Complementing its natural surroundings, the 2,955 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence captures the panoramic view of the skyline and offers high-quality finishes with modern interior design. The exterior features a timber frame porch, standing seam metal roof, custom chimney cap, Barnwood siding, and a glass garage door. Reclaimed timber derived from the homeowner’s family farmhouse is incorporated throughout the structure. It is decoratively used on the exterior as well as on the interior accent walls and ceiling beams. Other central interior elements include recessed lighting, flush baseboards, and caseless windows and doors. Hickory engineered flooring is displayed upstairs, and exposed concrete slab and foundation walls complement the downstairs decor. The rustic and luxurious great room offers a wood-burning fireplace with an onsite extricated boulder hearth, reclaimed timber ceiling beams, a full reclaimed accent wall, and a charming stucco chimney. The main floor also exhibits a reclaimed, sliding barn door to enclose the in-home office space. The kitchen is situated near the great room and is defined by stainless steel appliances that include a Thermador refrigerator/freezer, an induction range, and a coordinating farmhouse sink. Other standout features are leathered granite countertops, floating reclaimed timber shelves, and stunning ebony-colored drawers. The home’s lower level provides ideal accommodations for hosting family and friends. It features a spacious living area with access to a multi-purpose mudroom complete with a kitchen. This level also includes two guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. All bedrooms, including the master bedroom, have caseless windows and doors, floating reclaimed shelves, and flush baseboards. The master bathroom showcases a modern floating vanity with boulder vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, and large format floor tile.

Nestled in a secluded mountaintop location is the captivating Contemporary Mountaintop Escape. Complementing its natural surroundings, the 2,955 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence captures the panoramic view of the skyline and offers high-quality finishes with modern interior design. The exterior features a timber frame porch, standing seam metal roof, custom chimney cap, Barnwood siding, and a glass garage door. Reclaimed timber derived from the homeowner’s family farmhouse is incorporated throughout the structure. It is decoratively used on the exterior as well as on the interior accent walls and ceiling beams. Other central interior elements include recessed lighting, flush baseboards, and caseless windows and doors. Hickory engineered flooring is displayed upstairs, and exposed concrete slab and foundation walls complement the downstairs decor. The rustic and luxurious great room offers a wood-burning fireplace with an onsite extricated boulder hearth, reclaimed timber ceiling beams, a full reclaimed accent wall, and a charming stucco chimney. The main floor also exhibits a reclaimed, sliding barn door to enclose the in-home office space. The kitchen is situated near the great room and is defined by stainless steel appliances that include a Thermador refrigerator/freezer, an induction range, and a coordinating farmhouse sink. Other standout features are leathered granite countertops, floating reclaimed timber shelves, and stunning ebony-colored drawers. The home’s lower level provides ideal accommodations for hosting family and friends. It features a spacious living area with access to a multi-purpose mudroom complete with a kitchen. This level also includes two guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. All bedrooms, including the master bedroom, have caseless windows and doors, floating reclaimed shelves, and flush baseboards. The master bathroom showcases a modern floating vanity with boulder vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, and large format floor tile.

Nestled in a secluded mountaintop location is the captivating Contemporary Mountaintop Escape. Complementing its natural surroundings, the 2,955 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence captures the panoramic view of the skyline and offers high-quality finishes with modern interior design. The exterior features a timber frame porch, standing seam metal roof, custom chimney cap, Barnwood siding, and a glass garage door. Reclaimed timber derived from the homeowner’s family farmhouse is incorporated throughout the structure. It is decoratively used on the exterior as well as on the interior accent walls and ceiling beams. Other central interior elements include recessed lighting, flush baseboards, and caseless windows and doors. Hickory engineered flooring is displayed upstairs, and exposed concrete slab and foundation walls complement the downstairs decor. The rustic and luxurious great room offers a wood-burning fireplace with an onsite extricated boulder hearth, reclaimed timber ceiling beams, a full reclaimed accent wall, and a charming stucco chimney. The main floor also exhibits a reclaimed, sliding barn door to enclose the in-home office space. The kitchen is situated near the great room and is defined by stainless steel appliances that include a Thermador refrigerator/freezer, an induction range, and a coordinating farmhouse sink. Other standout features are leathered granite countertops, floating reclaimed timber shelves, and stunning ebony-colored drawers. The home’s lower level provides ideal accommodations for hosting family and friends. It features a spacious living area with access to a multi-purpose mudroom complete with a kitchen. This level also includes two guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. All bedrooms, including the master bedroom, have caseless windows and doors, floating reclaimed shelves, and flush baseboards. The master bathroom showcases a modern floating vanity with boulder vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, and large format floor tile.

Take a look at the image of the living/dining space with doors opening to a pool beyond. This is an elegant, finely-appointed room with aged, hand-hewn beams, dormered clerestory windows, and radiant-heated limestone floors. But the real power of the space derives less from these handsome details and more from the wide opening centered on the pool. The occupants of the room feel like they’re poolside, even while inside. When they’re entertaining, it matters little whether guests are on the terrace or in the living room; it all feels like one great space. The four-wide bank of doors is designed so that the central two are hinged directly to the flanking ones. Thus, when opened, they are precisely aligned, it seems as if there are somehow only two doors, and the assembly appears less cluttered. A mechanized, roll-down screen descends from above to completely secure the opening against insects. When the screen is in use, the doors at the far ends are used for passage (a word of advice: make sure to devise a screening solution in any multi-door design). Two images from a seasonal lakefront cottage in East Haddam combine to make an even bolder statement. This three-story building has a master suite occupying the entire third floor.

Casual yet elegant, the Etra Collection by Modern Outdoor offers a modern aesthetic that is constructed for outdoor use while being suitable for indoor settings. Etra’s visual inspiration is derived from its architectural-based frame system. Designed using structural angle steel that is mitered and ground, a clean and seamless surface gives Etra its pure appeal. Frame Options: • 304 stainless steel that is brushed and electropolished • marine-grade 316 stainless steel that is brushed and electropolished for use within one mile of salt air, available for an upcharge • powder coated carbon steel in our standard silver finish • custom powder coat colors, available for an upcharge Surface Options: • sustainably harvested ipe – a beautiful South American hardwood that is three times as dense as teak — naturally resistant to rot, insects, UV exposure, ice, salt, abrasion and splintering – all without the need for toxic chemicals — considered a 25+ year wood • marine-grade polyboard – a UV stabilized high-density polyethylene material that is non-corrosive and chip resistant – available in six colors for expanded design choices Fabric Options: • six standard colors of 100% solution dyed acrylic treated for outdoor use are offered • custom fabrics and COM service are also available Cushion Options: • our standard foam cushions are made from outdoor appropriate high-resiliency (HR) foam • for clients that prefer less maintenance, a flow-through foam that allows water and moisture to escape the cushion is also available for an upcharge Etra is a full-breadth line with dining, bar height, lounge, cafe, patio and pool setting pieces included. The pieces are readily customizable for individual client needs.

Nestled in a secluded mountaintop location is the captivating Contemporary Mountaintop Escape. Complementing its natural surroundings, the 2,955 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence captures the panoramic view of the skyline and offers high-quality finishes with modern interior design. The exterior features a timber frame porch, standing seam metal roof, custom chimney cap, Barnwood siding, and a glass garage door. Reclaimed timber derived from the homeowner’s family farmhouse is incorporated throughout the structure. It is decoratively used on the exterior as well as on the interior accent walls and ceiling beams. Other central interior elements include recessed lighting, flush baseboards, and caseless windows and doors. Hickory engineered flooring is displayed upstairs, and exposed concrete slab and foundation walls complement the downstairs decor. The rustic and luxurious great room offers a wood-burning fireplace with an onsite extricated boulder hearth, reclaimed timber ceiling beams, a full reclaimed accent wall, and a charming stucco chimney. The main floor also exhibits a reclaimed, sliding barn door to enclose the in-home office space. The kitchen is situated near the great room and is defined by stainless steel appliances that include a Thermador refrigerator/freezer, an induction range, and a coordinating farmhouse sink. Other standout features are leathered granite countertops, floating reclaimed timber shelves, and stunning ebony-colored drawers. The home’s lower level provides ideal accommodations for hosting family and friends. It features a spacious living area with access to a multi-purpose mudroom complete with a kitchen. This level also includes two guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. All bedrooms, including the master bedroom, have caseless windows and doors, floating reclaimed shelves, and flush baseboards. The master bathroom showcases a modern floating vanity with boulder vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, and large format floor tile.

Nestled in a secluded mountaintop location is the captivating Contemporary Mountaintop Escape. Complementing its natural surroundings, the 2,955 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence captures the panoramic view of the skyline and offers high-quality finishes with modern interior design. The exterior features a timber frame porch, standing seam metal roof, custom chimney cap, Barnwood siding, and a glass garage door. Reclaimed timber derived from the homeowner’s family farmhouse is incorporated throughout the structure. It is decoratively used on the exterior as well as on the interior accent walls and ceiling beams. Other central interior elements include recessed lighting, flush baseboards, and caseless windows and doors. Hickory engineered flooring is displayed upstairs, and exposed concrete slab and foundation walls complement the downstairs decor. The rustic and luxurious great room offers a wood-burning fireplace with an onsite extricated boulder hearth, reclaimed timber ceiling beams, a full reclaimed accent wall, and a charming stucco chimney. The main floor also exhibits a reclaimed, sliding barn door to enclose the in-home office space. The kitchen is situated near the great room and is defined by stainless steel appliances that include a Thermador refrigerator/freezer, an induction range, and a coordinating farmhouse sink. Other standout features are leathered granite countertops, floating reclaimed timber shelves, and stunning ebony-colored drawers. The home’s lower level provides ideal accommodations for hosting family and friends. It features a spacious living area with access to a multi-purpose mudroom complete with a kitchen. This level also includes two guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. All bedrooms, including the master bedroom, have caseless windows and doors, floating reclaimed shelves, and flush baseboards. The master bathroom showcases a modern floating vanity with boulder vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, and large format floor tile.

Nestled in a secluded mountaintop location is the captivating Contemporary Mountaintop Escape. Complementing its natural surroundings, the 2,955 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence captures the panoramic view of the skyline and offers high-quality finishes with modern interior design. The exterior features a timber frame porch, standing seam metal roof, custom chimney cap, Barnwood siding, and a glass garage door. Reclaimed timber derived from the homeowner’s family farmhouse is incorporated throughout the structure. It is decoratively used on the exterior as well as on the interior accent walls and ceiling beams. Other central interior elements include recessed lighting, flush baseboards, and caseless windows and doors. Hickory engineered flooring is displayed upstairs, and exposed concrete slab and foundation walls complement the downstairs decor. The rustic and luxurious great room offers a wood-burning fireplace with an onsite extricated boulder hearth, reclaimed timber ceiling beams, a full reclaimed accent wall, and a charming stucco chimney. The main floor also exhibits a reclaimed, sliding barn door to enclose the in-home office space. The kitchen is situated near the great room and is defined by stainless steel appliances that include a Thermador refrigerator/freezer, an induction range, and a coordinating farmhouse sink. Other standout features are leathered granite countertops, floating reclaimed timber shelves, and stunning ebony-colored drawers. The home’s lower level provides ideal accommodations for hosting family and friends. It features a spacious living area with access to a multi-purpose mudroom complete with a kitchen. This level also includes two guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. All bedrooms, including the master bedroom, have caseless windows and doors, floating reclaimed shelves, and flush baseboards. The master bathroom showcases a modern floating vanity with boulder vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, and large format floor tile.

"Swaddled" (Left) - A simple statement of protection and peace, "Swaddled" is a picture of contrast and balance. Just as a newborn is snuggly wrapped for its own comfort during the early days of stark, new reality--"Swaddled" can signal safety and rest during grown up times of change and challenge. A focal point for stability, this painting bears the long lasting message that present circumstances are always temporary and that we should never stop allowing ourselves to be swaddled. 48"x72", Acrylic on Canvas with Fabric Trim. "Relativity" (Right, three pieces) The law of conservation of momentum can be derived from Newton's second law of motion (force equals mass times acceleration, or F=ma). This concept was the inspiration for Relativity. Simple and clean in its design, yet portraying the concept of action and reaction...this piece is calming, yet inspiring. An ultra-modern new build was the original inspiration for this design. It's fun to be given an opportunity to paint pictures for a brand new home that is like a gallery. I wanted to honor the theme of a mid-century revival home in the designs I made. A king size bed in a spacious master bedroom allowed for art that was dramatic and inspirational. I ended up making three pieces of the same design. One piece can stand alone, or multiples can be grouped together to cover a large area and create impact. 24"x48" each (3), Acrylic on Canvas with Fabric Trim.

The Potrero Residence is the archetype for Architecture Office’s iterative process. Nestled in the Santa Monica mountains and surrounded by avocado farms, our client asked us to design a monumental hilltop home with views facing every direction and an underground ten car garage. We developed three concepts, choosing one developed by modelling a floorplate and populating it with cube forms. Using modelling software, we “sliced” the cubes at different points and rotated them across the plate. Via the interplay of these segmented cubes, this process created unique trapezoidal forms on each floorplate. Each floor in the Potrero residence functions as a unique relationship of forms and voids. In this building, each exterior-facing void⁠—the spaces between the rotated cubes⁠—is either walled with glass to create a floor to ceiling window, or subtracted to create a balcony. These punctures provide each exterior facing room in the house with a panoramic view over a different area of the property. The balconies give this home a variety of lighting conditions throughout the day, sometimes dark and sometimes light, reminiscent of cave dwellings. This design process creates a unique exterior wall across every face of the building. The driveway-facing facade is sculpted to resemble a traditional gable roofed house. Working around the house reveals a much more complex and digitally derived form. In the center of the house, a gem-shaped courtyard offers light within the relatively deep floor plates. Following the form building process, we developed a material solution using cast-in-place, board formed concrete—giving the house a weighty appearance and reinforcing its cave-like volumes. The rotated cube forms create diverse atmospheres within the interior, and singular aesthetic relationships to the exterior environment. Though grand in scale, our design process creates a fundamentally simple form, while the interior’s spatial conditions evoke the comforts of home.

Photography Robin Hill & Chance Stillman The renovation of this contemporary residence and garden is deeply inspired by its subtropical context, utilizing horizontal lines to ground the home and connect its occupants to nature. When considering how to make the most impactful intervention, the design team focused mainly on horizontal roof planes, subtropical landscaping and an abundance of clerestory windows that would all contribute to the home’s integration with its site. In contrast to the tropes of a Palm Beach traditional vernacular, this home seeks to re-establish itself within nature as a place for a young family. Architectural strategies included dematerializing the surrounding walls and expanding the roof eaves to connect the interior spaces with the surrounding gardens of the home. The site plan is organized around four main pavilions: A bedroom pavilion to the south, a cabana pavilion to the west, a garage pavilion to the north, and a central living pavilion. Each of the three pavilions engage with the central living space while still allowing nature to flow between them. The pavilions are organized around the pool deck, equipped with zero-edge detailing and layered subtropical landscaping. In this way the swimming pool doubles as a recreational component to the program but also as a mirror to expand views and reflect the surrounding landscape. A glass bridge serves as the garden threshold between the garage and the home. The renovated home and garden departs from its former Bahamian style and stands out within the community as a symbol for the future of architecture and landscape architecture within this quiet, ocean-front community. A residence derived from, and in response to, its user and environmental context; thus, re-establishing it with place. Scale 1 ACRE Scope HARDSCAPE, SWIMMING POOL + PLANTING DESIGN Year 2022 Architecture KODA Landscape Architecture LandFluent General Contractor PB Built Landscape Contractor Rood Landscape

Nestled in a secluded mountaintop location is the captivating Contemporary Mountaintop Escape. Complementing its natural surroundings, the 2,955 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence captures the panoramic view of the skyline and offers high-quality finishes with modern interior design. The exterior features a timber frame porch, standing seam metal roof, custom chimney cap, Barnwood siding, and a glass garage door. Reclaimed timber derived from the homeowner’s family farmhouse is incorporated throughout the structure. It is decoratively used on the exterior as well as on the interior accent walls and ceiling beams. Other central interior elements include recessed lighting, flush baseboards, and caseless windows and doors. Hickory engineered flooring is displayed upstairs, and exposed concrete slab and foundation walls complement the downstairs decor. The rustic and luxurious great room offers a wood-burning fireplace with an onsite extricated boulder hearth, reclaimed timber ceiling beams, a full reclaimed accent wall, and a charming stucco chimney. The main floor also exhibits a reclaimed, sliding barn door to enclose the in-home office space. The kitchen is situated near the great room and is defined by stainless steel appliances that include a Thermador refrigerator/freezer, an induction range, and a coordinating farmhouse sink. Other standout features are leathered granite countertops, floating reclaimed timber shelves, and stunning ebony-colored drawers. The home’s lower level provides ideal accommodations for hosting family and friends. It features a spacious living area with access to a multi-purpose mudroom complete with a kitchen. This level also includes two guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. All bedrooms, including the master bedroom, have caseless windows and doors, floating reclaimed shelves, and flush baseboards. The master bathroom showcases a modern floating vanity with boulder vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, and large format floor tile.

Photography Robin Hill & Chance Stillman The renovation of this contemporary residence and garden is deeply inspired by its subtropical context, utilizing horizontal lines to ground the home and connect its occupants to nature. When considering how to make the most impactful intervention, the design team focused mainly on horizontal roof planes, subtropical landscaping and an abundance of clerestory windows that would all contribute to the home’s integration with its site. In contrast to the tropes of a Palm Beach traditional vernacular, this home seeks to re-establish itself within nature as a place for a young family. Architectural strategies included dematerializing the surrounding walls and expanding the roof eaves to connect the interior spaces with the surrounding gardens of the home. The site plan is organized around four main pavilions: A bedroom pavilion to the south, a cabana pavilion to the west, a garage pavilion to the north, and a central living pavilion. Each of the three pavilions engage with the central living space while still allowing nature to flow between them. The pavilions are organized around the pool deck, equipped with zero-edge detailing and layered subtropical landscaping. In this way the swimming pool doubles as a recreational component to the program but also as a mirror to expand views and reflect the surrounding landscape. A glass bridge serves as the garden threshold between the garage and the home. The renovated home and garden departs from its former Bahamian style and stands out within the community as a symbol for the future of architecture and landscape architecture within this quiet, ocean-front community. A residence derived from, and in response to, its user and environmental context; thus, re-establishing it with place. Scale 1 ACRE Scope HARDSCAPE, SWIMMING POOL + PLANTING DESIGN Year 2022 Architecture KODA Landscape Architecture LandFluent General Contractor PB Built Landscape Contractor Rood Landscape

Take a look at the image of the living/dining space with doors opening to a pool beyond. This is an elegant, finely-appointed room with aged, hand-hewn beams, dormered clerestory windows, and radiant-heated limestone floors. But the real power of the space derives less from these handsome details and more from the wide opening centered on the pool. The occupants of the room feel like they’re poolside, even while inside. When they’re entertaining, it matters little whether guests are on the terrace or in the living room; it all feels like one great space. The four-wide bank of doors is designed so that the central two are hinged directly to the flanking ones. Thus, when opened, they are precisely aligned, it seems as if there are somehow only two doors, and the assembly appears less cluttered. A mechanized, roll-down screen descends from above to completely secure the opening against insects. When the screen is in use, the doors at the far ends are used for passage (a word of advice: make sure to devise a screening solution in any multi-door design). Two images from a seasonal lakefront cottage in East Haddam combine to make an even bolder statement. This three-story building has a master suite occupying the entire third floor.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Nestled in a secluded mountaintop location is the captivating Contemporary Mountaintop Escape. Complementing its natural surroundings, the 2,955 square foot, four-bedroom, three-bathroom residence captures the panoramic view of the skyline and offers high-quality finishes with modern interior design. The exterior features a timber frame porch, standing seam metal roof, custom chimney cap, Barnwood siding, and a glass garage door. Reclaimed timber derived from the homeowner’s family farmhouse is incorporated throughout the structure. It is decoratively used on the exterior as well as on the interior accent walls and ceiling beams. Other central interior elements include recessed lighting, flush baseboards, and caseless windows and doors. Hickory engineered flooring is displayed upstairs, and exposed concrete slab and foundation walls complement the downstairs decor. The rustic and luxurious great room offers a wood-burning fireplace with an onsite extricated boulder hearth, reclaimed timber ceiling beams, a full reclaimed accent wall, and a charming stucco chimney. The main floor also exhibits a reclaimed, sliding barn door to enclose the in-home office space. The kitchen is situated near the great room and is defined by stainless steel appliances that include a Thermador refrigerator/freezer, an induction range, and a coordinating farmhouse sink. Other standout features are leathered granite countertops, floating reclaimed timber shelves, and stunning ebony-colored drawers. The home’s lower level provides ideal accommodations for hosting family and friends. It features a spacious living area with access to a multi-purpose mudroom complete with a kitchen. This level also includes two guest bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. All bedrooms, including the master bedroom, have caseless windows and doors, floating reclaimed shelves, and flush baseboards. The master bathroom showcases a modern floating vanity with boulder vessel sinks, wall-mounted faucets, and large format floor tile.