Project Team: Ben Awes, AIA, Principal-In-Charge, Bob Ganser AIA, Nate Dodge Photographer: Alyssa Lee www.alyssaleephotography.com
Trendy kitchen photo in Minneapolis

This Noe Valley whole-house renovation maximizes natural light and features sculptural details. A new wall of full-height windows and doors allows for stunning views of downtown San Francisco. A dynamic skylight creates shifting shadows across the neutral palette of bleached oak cabinetry, white stone and silicone bronze. In order to avoid the clutter of an open plan the kitchen is intentionally outfitted with minimal hardware, integrated appliances and furniture grade cabinetry and detailing. The white range hood offers subtle geometric interest, leading the eyes upwards towards the skylight. This light-filled space is the center of the home. Photo by David Duncan Livingston.

Located near the foot of the Teton Mountains, the site and a modest program led to placing the main house and guest quarters in separate buildings configured to form outdoor spaces. With mountains rising to the northwest and a stream cutting through the southeast corner of the lot, this placement of the main house and guest cabin distinctly responds to the two scales of the site. The public and private wings of the main house define a courtyard, which is visually enclosed by the prominence of the mountains beyond. At a more intimate scale, the garden walls of the main house and guest cabin create a private entry court. A concrete wall, which extends into the landscape marks the entrance and defines the circulation of the main house. Public spaces open off this axis toward the views to the mountains. Secondary spaces branch off to the north and south forming the private wing of the main house and the guest cabin. With regulation restricting the roof forms, the structural trusses are shaped to lift the ceiling planes toward light and the views of the landscape. A.I.A Wyoming Chapter Design Award of Citation 2017 Project Year: 2008

This waterfront home was conceived by the architects as a series of identically scaled, simply articulated gable-roofed elements linked by flat-roofed connectors. From the entrance driveway, the house appears almost as a village of individual granite residences. These two elements – gables and flat roofs – complement each other, establishing a dynamic of light and dark, smooth and rough, grounded and floating. It was critical to the ultimate success of this building that it be well suited and connected to tits content so that it seems like it could not be anywhere else. The home was positioned to capture this view and, in a way, imbue it with power. We responded to this directive by incorporating large expanses of windows that allow one to literally look through the house from the front yard to the sailboats bobbing on the water at the rear. A short bridge passes over an exterior passage connecting front and rear.

Rivington Street Building is a multi-family residential building in New York City that was designed, developed and constructed from the ground up by Paul A. Castrucci, Architect. In order to successfully take on the roles of developer and contractor, Castrucci utilized his ability to balance budget, schedule and constructability. The building is a part of its community and its facade responds to the human and contextual scale. The base of the building utilizes brick, tying it into the surrounding neighborhood. The top floors of the building break from the contextual base in form and material. The corrugated metal saw tooth roofline is a response to the environment, bringing in soft, northern light while providing roof area for a Photovoltaic array of solar panels. The top floor is connected to a roof garden filled with native plants. The result is a light-filled, dynamic space that is shaped by its relationship to daylight and connections to the exterior. Constructed in 2003, Rivington Street Building is an example of the firm’s energy efficient design that utilizes sustainable methods such as a high-performance envelope, a solar Photovoltaic (PV) array and rainwater collection/grey water system.

This two-bedroom detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) responds to a small footprint creating a new 800 square-foot structure in the backyard of an existing house. The size led to designing the home vertically, as a small two-story dwelling. To create a taller, more dynamic living space, the ceiling is vaulted following a gabled roof line. Two bedrooms, located mostly below grade to maximize the amount of rentable square footage, have window wells to bring in ample natural light and provide required window exits. The main floor consists of a vaulted living and kitchen spaces with a small bath and entry. The landscape surrounding the new dwelling creates an inviting setting, both distinguishing and complementing the unit from the primary home within the same property.

Rivington Street Building is a multi-family residential building in New York City that was designed, developed and constructed from the ground up by Paul A. Castrucci, Architect. In order to successfully take on the roles of developer and contractor, Castrucci utilized his ability to balance budget, schedule and constructability. The building is a part of its community and its facade responds to the human and contextual scale. The base of the building utilizes brick, tying it into the surrounding neighborhood. The top floors of the building break from the contextual base in form and material. The corrugated metal saw tooth roofline is a response to the environment, bringing in soft, northern light while providing roof area for a Photovoltaic array of solar panels. The top floor is connected to a roof garden filled with native plants. The result is a light-filled, dynamic space that is shaped by its relationship to daylight and connections to the exterior. Constructed in 2003, Rivington Street Building is an example of the firm’s energy efficient design that utilizes sustainable methods such as a high-performance envelope, a solar Photovoltaic (PV) array and rainwater collection/grey water system.

This waterfront home was conceived by the architects as a series of identically scaled, simply articulated gable-roofed elements linked by flat-roofed connectors. From the entrance driveway, the house appears almost as a village of individual granite residences. These two elements – gables and flat roofs – complement each other, establishing a dynamic of light and dark, smooth and rough, grounded and floating. It was critical to the ultimate success of this building that it be well suited and connected to tits content so that it seems like it could not be anywhere else. The home was positioned to capture this view and, in a way, imbue it with power. We responded to this directive by incorporating large expanses of windows that allow one to literally look through the house from the front yard to the sailboats bobbing on the water at the rear.

Rivington Street Building is a multi-family residential building in New York City that was designed, developed and constructed from the ground up by Paul A. Castrucci, Architect. In order to successfully take on the roles of developer and contractor, Castrucci utilized his ability to balance budget, schedule and constructability. The building is a part of its community and its facade responds to the human and contextual scale. The base of the building utilizes brick, tying it into the surrounding neighborhood. The top floors of the building break from the contextual base in form and material. The corrugated metal saw tooth roofline is a response to the environment, bringing in soft, northern light while providing roof area for a Photovoltaic array of solar panels. The top floor is connected to a roof garden filled with native plants. The result is a light-filled, dynamic space that is shaped by its relationship to daylight and connections to the exterior. Constructed in 2003, Rivington Street Building is an example of the firm’s energy efficient design that utilizes sustainable methods such as a high-performance envelope, a solar Photovoltaic (PV) array and rainwater collection/grey water system.

This two-bedroom detached accessory dwelling unit (DADU) responds to a small footprint creating a new 800 square-foot structure in the backyard of an existing house. The size led to designing the home vertically, as a small two-story dwelling. To create a taller, more dynamic living space, the ceiling is vaulted following a gabled roof line. Two bedrooms, located mostly below grade to maximize the amount of rentable square footage, have window wells to bring in ample natural light and provide required window exits. The main floor consists of a vaulted living and kitchen spaces with a small bath and entry. The landscape surrounding the new dwelling creates an inviting setting, both distinguishing and complementing the unit from the primary home within the same property.

Rivington Street Building is a multi-family residential building in New York City that was designed, developed and constructed from the ground up by Paul A. Castrucci, Architect. In order to successfully take on the roles of developer and contractor, Castrucci utilized his ability to balance budget, schedule and constructability. The building is a part of its community and its facade responds to the human and contextual scale. The base of the building utilizes brick, tying it into the surrounding neighborhood. The top floors of the building break from the contextual base in form and material. The corrugated metal saw tooth roofline is a response to the environment, bringing in soft, northern light while providing roof area for a Photovoltaic array of solar panels. The top floor is connected to a roof garden filled with native plants. The result is a light-filled, dynamic space that is shaped by its relationship to daylight and connections to the exterior. Constructed in 2003, Rivington Street Building is an example of the firm’s energy efficient design that utilizes sustainable methods such as a high-performance envelope, a solar Photovoltaic (PV) array and rainwater collection/grey water system.

With tiers of hand-made, stereo diamond-shaped crystal blocks hang to the premium metal frame, the captures light wonderfully, casting warm luminosity through your space and delivering charming elegance that you are sure to adore. Due to the cascading design which is composed of hand-made stereo diamond-shaped crystal blocks, this large pendant light dances trippingly and adds a touch of dynamic and fun when responding to the gust of wind. To provide the customer the most natural and modern touch, it uses premium materials to keep a weather-worn look. Let the sparkle shine through the tiered crystal blocks to produce a warm, opulent glow over your dining table, kitchen island, and living room. The light bulb holder that can be twisted makes it more convenient for you to install the light bulb and adjust the direction of the light source.

Rivington Street Building is a multi-family residential building in New York City that was designed, developed and constructed from the ground up by Paul A. Castrucci, Architect. In order to successfully take on the roles of developer and contractor, Castrucci utilized his ability to balance budget, schedule and constructability. The building is a part of its community and its facade responds to the human and contextual scale. The base of the building utilizes brick, tying it into the surrounding neighborhood. The top floors of the building break from the contextual base in form and material. The corrugated metal saw tooth roofline is a response to the environment, bringing in soft, northern light while providing roof area for a Photovoltaic array of solar panels. The top floor is connected to a roof garden filled with native plants. The result is a light-filled, dynamic space that is shaped by its relationship to daylight and connections to the exterior. Constructed in 2003, Rivington Street Building is an example of the firm’s energy efficient design that utilizes sustainable methods such as a high-performance envelope, a solar Photovoltaic (PV) array and rainwater collection/grey water system.

Rivington Street Building is a multi-family residential building in New York City that was designed, developed and constructed from the ground up by Paul A. Castrucci, Architect. In order to successfully take on the roles of developer and contractor, Castrucci utilized his ability to balance budget, schedule and constructability. The building is a part of its community and its facade responds to the human and contextual scale. The base of the building utilizes brick, tying it into the surrounding neighborhood. The top floors of the building break from the contextual base in form and material. The corrugated metal saw tooth roofline is a response to the environment, bringing in soft, northern light while providing roof area for a Photovoltaic array of solar panels. The top floor is connected to a roof garden filled with native plants. The result is a light-filled, dynamic space that is shaped by its relationship to daylight and connections to the exterior. Constructed in 2003, Rivington Street Building is an example of the firm’s energy efficient design that utilizes sustainable methods such as a high-performance envelope, a solar Photovoltaic (PV) array and rainwater collection/grey water system.

This concept explores a contemporary mountain residence designed to respond directly to a sloping site while maximizing daylight, views, and connection to the landscape. The home is organized as a series of simple roof forms that step with the terrain, creating a dynamic composition that balances modern simplicity with regional architectural influences. The upper level appears lightly positioned above the hillside, with generous roof overhangs providing solar protection and emphasizing horizontal lines. Expansive glazing opens primary living spaces to surrounding views while creating a strong indoor-outdoor relationship. A restrained material palette of light-toned cladding, natural stone, and large-format glass reinforces the home's modern character while grounding it within the site. The lower level is partially embedded into the slope and expressed through substantial stone walls and piers that visually anchor the structure to the landscape. These masonry elements create a sense of permanence and provide a durable base that contrasts with the lighter forms above. The interplay between solid stone surfaces and transparent glazing introduces depth, rhythm, and visual interest across the façade. The result is a contemporary custom home that merges clean architectural lines with natural materials, creating a residence that feels both modern and timeless while responding thoughtfully to the challenges and opportunities of hillside living.

Nestled in the lush landscape, a modern reinterpretation of a once-fallen barn now features a charming guest cottage with stylish details and contemporary amenities. Situated along a narrow lot in Germantown, New York, the cottage completes a cluster of existing buildings, forming an intimate courtyard on one side. Steel effect folding patio doors fully open the living areas to the expansive fields and the Catskill Mountains beyond. The homeowners, a young family with parents living abroad, envisioned a cozy yet modern ADU for extended stays. Designed by Lauren Cawse, AIA, architect and partner at The Art of Building, the year-round retreat draws inspiration from traditional local barns while embracing a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Captivating Guest Cottage Design Enhances the Senses with Steel Effect Folding Patio Doors The modern ADU design started with the site itself. Positioned between residential and commercial neighbors, the elongated property required a careful balance of privacy and openness. Architect Lauren Cawse approached the layout by redefining the existing house and garage as the east and west sides of an outdoor room, with the new cottage forming its southern boundary. This arrangement created a clear courtyard near the main residence while directing the 800-square-foot guest house toward the open meadow and the distant Catskill Mountains. “The unique character of the site and its history inspired the architectural direction,” says Cawse. “The intent was to create a secondary structure in the compound in clear contrast to the modern farmhouse style of the house and garage.” A Barn-Inspired Exterior Adds Visual Flair The exterior envelope evokes a traditional barn with a simple gable shape, weathered wood siding, cedar shingles, and a foundation veneer made of local fieldstone. A large sliding barn door adds a complementary feature to the courtyard-facing side, creating a dynamic opening that maintains uninterrupted views through the cottage to the meadow beyond. Steel effect folding patio doors surrounding the structure add a modern touch of transparency, and simulated divided lites allow the contemporary glass wall systems to harmonize with the traditional elements of the modern ADU design. “The goal was to fully open the living areas to the outdoors, framing views to the meadows and mountains,” says Cawse. “The positioning of the NanaWall systems frames the views and, when open, dissolves the boundary between inside and out.” Interior Design That Mirrors Nature’s Tranquility Inside, the design program features a simple layout with one bedroom, a full bath, a kitchenette, and a living area with a wood-burning stove. The interior, a collaboration between The Art of Building and the homeowners, is defined by an understated palette and tactile materials that reflect the natural setting. Color is introduced through the framed glass views on all sides of the structure. Reclaimed timber collar ties span the ceiling overhead, while stone surfaces and naturally patinated metal accents add quiet texture throughout. Custom hand-painted Delft tiles along the kitchen backsplash add personal detail, and terra cotta flooring in the bathroom brings warmth and old-world charm. Soaring ceilings and abundant daylight create a peaceful play of light and shadow, shifting subtly with the seasons and emphasizing the cottage’s connection to the natural landscape outside. Sleek Steel Effect Folding Patio Doors Elevate the Modern ADU Design Aesthetic Three customized steel effect folding patio doors define the living space, each aligned to respond to a different edge of the site. The largest, spanning nearly 20 feet wide and just under eight feet tall, opens directly onto the stone patio, allowing the main gathering area to extend fully into the landscape. Along the side of the living room, a smaller 10-foot-wide system introduces more light and ventilation, nearly creating an open corner condition if not for the structural post that supports the façade and roofline. At the rear, a fourth ten-foot-wide system features a French door swing panel configuration that opens toward the courtyard, strengthening the design connection to the main residence. All steel effect folding patio doors were specified with a low-maintenance, water-rated Performance Sill to safeguard against inclement weather while providing a seamless, barrier-free transition to the outdoor patio. Unique Customizations for Visual Appeal and a Steel Effect Each folding patio door system is configured to open outward, maximizing usable floor space in the compact interior and allowing furniture placement to remain uninterrupted. By stacking outward, the steel effect folding patio doors, specified in a SE Classic Bronze powder coat, ensure every inch of the cottage is optimized. Simulated divided lites create a consistent rhythm across windows and doors, maintaining alignment with the traditional barn-inspired exterior. In the bedroom, a three-panel, 10-foot-wide system mirrors these customizations, matching the steel effect divided-lite pattern and outward-opening configuration, extending the indoor-outdoor connection while preserving visual continuity throughout the ADU. “The divided lites were crucial to the architectural vision, and while budget prohibited a steel and glass system, NanaWall Systems’ thin frames provide the open and airy feeling we hoped to attain,” says Cawse. “Simulated divided lites transition the thoroughly modern element of the glass walls to remain in harmony with the otherwise traditional palette.” Matching Windows and Doors: Create a Cohesive Design Program Alongside the larger openings in the living areas and bedroom, a smaller 3-foot-tall NanaWall tilt turn window was added to the bathroom. This window-sized NanaWall system perfectly matches the divided lite panels and sleek frames of the steel effect folding patio doors, creating a cohesive modern ADU design throughout. The compact opening provides ventilation and natural light, enhancing the spa-like atmosphere along with natural stone flooring. The matching glass lines and sleek profiles of the NanaWall Generation 4 comprehensive product line further unify visual consistency, allowing each system to fit into the architectural style seamlessly. “This project had three bifold glass walls, a pair of double French doors with sidelites, and a single tilt turn window,” says architect Lauren Cawse. “Being able to work with a single manufacturer provided aesthetic cohesiveness and simplified coordination.” Sustainability Where It Matters Most New York weather can vary from hot 85-degree summers to cold 26-degree winters. Creating an efficient living space was a primary goal. To achieve this, the design included Timber HP-insulated walls and floors with a heat pump system for effective heating and cooling. Additionally, the steel effect folding patio doors and windows were specified with double-glazed panels to ensure a tight building envelope. Indoor-Outdoor Living Spaces for Relaxing and Entertaining In-house landscape designer Liz Pulver worked closely with the team to conceive open-air spaces that enhanced the connection between inside and outside. To the south end of the lot, the landscape transitions into an “enhanced meadow,” allowing the cottage to feel embedded within the surrounding fields rather than set apart from them. A circular pool was designed to mimic a natural pond with a modest footprint. Around it, a minimalist fence and sunken stone ha-ha wall offer discreet safety for young children. Limited space due to existing infrastructure and zoning setbacks left only a small footprint for the swimming pool, prompting the designer to propose a circular form that maximized the usable swimming area. “We felt that the perfect way to integrate a pool into the property and to honor the landscape would be to treat the pool as a piece of art itself,” says Pulver. “The result is a beautiful round pool that serves as both a functional retreat and a sculptural moment.” Final Thoughts: A Barn-Inspired Design for Contemporary Living This modern ADU design skillfully combines modern features with the enduring charm of traditional barns. The outcome is a welcoming living space that stands out amid a stunning landscape. Natural materials that mimic the beauty of the outdoors, expansive steel effect folding patio doors that fill the space with fresh air and natural light, and a restrained interior design work together to create an inviting retreat for everyday living, throughout the seasons. “When entering the site, the cottage feels as though it was always there,” says Cawse. “It achieves its two opposing goals by creating a feeling of intimacy and enclosure near the house while also functioning as a threshold to the expansive fields and views beyond.” Explore how NanaWall folding patio doors elevate other ADU spaces in our inspiring project photo gallery! Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What is Slimline Steel Effect? Steel Effect is a folding patio door design option that replicates the appearance of traditional steel-framed glass doors. It combines the look of steel with the performance benefits of aluminum, including energy efficiency, low maintenance, greater design flexibility, and lower cost. How does a NanaWall Steel Effect aluminum system compare to traditional steel-framed glass doors? NanaWall Slimline Steel Effect folding patio doors replicate the narrow frames of traditional steel doors with improved weather and thermal performance and easier operation. They are lighter, more corrosion-resistant, and feature a thermally broken design for better energy efficiency and lower long-term maintenance. What are the benefits of Steel Effect folding glass walls? Steel Effect folding glass walls deliver the narrow sightlines and grid patterns of traditional steel, combined with the performance and low maintenance of aluminum. The slimline steel effect option offers all the benefits of our Generation 4 product line, including the FourFold / SixFold floating panel set option and smooth operation with Gothic arch stainless steel rollers on a stainless steel track. Can Slimline Steel Effect glass walls be customized? Yes, these systems offer a high level of customization to suit different architectural styles, including simulated divided lites specified in various patterns, popular SE colors for a true steel effect look, and a contemporary glass stop option for a refined look. Contact your local NanaWall representative for additional options here. How energy-efficient and weather-resistant are Slimline Steel Effect folding patio doors? Steel effect folding systems are engineered for strong thermal and weather performance. Thermally broken frames and high-performance glazing help improve energy efficiency. Each NanaWall system has been independently tested for air, water, structural integrity, and forced entry with excellent results.

Sharifi-ha House Uncertainty and flexibility lie at the heart of the design concept in Sharifi-ha House. The sensational, spatial qualities of the interiors, as well as the formal configuration of its exterior, directly respond to the displacement of turning boxes that lead the building volume to become open or closed, obtaining introverted or extroverted character. These changes may occur according to changing seasons or functional scenarios of floor plans. Like many other urban plots, the land for this project had a noticeably narrow façade-width compared with its length. Consequently, our expertise in transforming a two-dimensional façade to a three-dimensional one became indispensable. Here, the openness /closure of the building volume is a reference to traditional Iranian houses, which would dynamically serve as seasonal modes of habitation by offering both a Zemestan-Neshin (winter living room) and Taabestan-Neshin (summer living room) to their residents. In summertime, Sharifi-ha House offers an open /transparent /perforated volume with wide, large terraces. In contrast, during Tehran’s cold, snowy winters the volume closes itself, offering minimal openings in total absence of those wide summer terraces. In this project, the challenges to the concepts of open/closed typology (introverted/extroverted character) led to an exciting spatial transformation of an ever-changing residential building. The House is distributed over seven floors: the two basement floors are allocated to family conviviality, fitness facilities, and wellness areas, while the ground floor hosts parking and housekeeping rooms. Public activities all happen on the first and second floors, and the family’s private life takes place on the third and fourth floors. The project consisted of four major parts; the fixed volume of the structure, the void, and the fixed volume and the mobile volume, respectively. When the turning boxes are closed, the building captures sunlight throughout the space of the central void, which also connects the two fixed volumes by suspended bridges. The house adapts to the functional needs of its residents. For instance, depending on whether there is a guest or not, the guest room (located on the second floor) can be reconfigured for different purposes. Similarly, home office and breakfast room (turning rooms on the first and third floors) can change the formality of their appearance according to their residents’ desire. In other words, there is always the possibility of having different seasonal or lighting scenarios, some of which have been already considered in the BMS program of the project. From the initial design steps, we noticed that three pine trees outside could be incorporated into the spaces of the interior. Now, in the open mode of the house, the trees are pleasantly captured by the window frames. Stepping back for about three meters from the permitted construction boundary line allowed us to provide splendid daylight for the basement floors by inserting a glass fountain. The fitness and wellness areas are accommodated between this fountain and the basement pool where reflective installations reverberate the water’s radiance all over the space. The applied manufacturing technique for the turning mechanism was in fact a simple one; the same method which is currently employed in turning theatrical scenes, turning the floor of car exhibitions, steel companies and the shipping industry in Iran. But as our client himself was into importing CNC and other similar industrial German machines, he preferred the structural system to be fabricated in Germany. In doing so, he could engage his employees in the manufacturing process and thus train them for future maintenance purposes. Details of the handrails and air-penetration controlling methods were major issues considered in developing the design of the turning boxes. Designing foldable handrails and refining the edges of the boxes happened to be our feasible solutions. Considering the specialties of this kind of architecture, the structural system was inevitably a customized one. After digitally modeling the structure, a series of SAP2000 analysis were undertaken to examine static/dynamic performance of the proposed system. Being partially moveable is the dominant feature of this structural assembly, which was contemplated throughout the fabrication process by the German manufacturer company. The main loads all rest on the beams of the living rooms. Due to the various configurations the turning boxes may take, the loading calculation has been estimated based on the largest possible loading value applied to the system. Additionally, in order to prevent structural deformation controlling the probable vibrations in the turning boxes was taken into account during the design/calculations of the structure. The house was titled Sharifi-ha House, in honor of traditional Iranian mansions.

Sharifi-ha House Uncertainty and flexibility lie at the heart of the design concept in Sharifi-ha House. The sensational, spatial qualities of the interiors, as well as the formal configuration of its exterior, directly respond to the displacement of turning boxes that lead the building volume to become open or closed, obtaining introverted or extroverted character. These changes may occur according to changing seasons or functional scenarios of floor plans. Like many other urban plots, the land for this project had a noticeably narrow façade-width compared with its length. Consequently, our expertise in transforming a two-dimensional façade to a three-dimensional one became indispensable. Here, the openness /closure of the building volume is a reference to traditional Iranian houses, which would dynamically serve as seasonal modes of habitation by offering both a Zemestan-Neshin (winter living room) and Taabestan-Neshin (summer living room) to their residents. In summertime, Sharifi-ha House offers an open /transparent /perforated volume with wide, large terraces. In contrast, during Tehran’s cold, snowy winters the volume closes itself, offering minimal openings in total absence of those wide summer terraces. In this project, the challenges to the concepts of open/closed typology (introverted/extroverted character) led to an exciting spatial transformation of an ever-changing residential building. The House is distributed over seven floors: the two basement floors are allocated to family conviviality, fitness facilities, and wellness areas, while the ground floor hosts parking and housekeeping rooms. Public activities all happen on the first and second floors, and the family’s private life takes place on the third and fourth floors. The project consisted of four major parts; the fixed volume of the structure, the void, and the fixed volume and the mobile volume, respectively. When the turning boxes are closed, the building captures sunlight throughout the space of the central void, which also connects the two fixed volumes by suspended bridges. The house adapts to the functional needs of its residents. For instance, depending on whether there is a guest or not, the guest room (located on the second floor) can be reconfigured for different purposes. Similarly, home office and breakfast room (turning rooms on the first and third floors) can change the formality of their appearance according to their residents’ desire. In other words, there is always the possibility of having different seasonal or lighting scenarios, some of which have been already considered in the BMS program of the project. From the initial design steps, we noticed that three pine trees outside could be incorporated into the spaces of the interior. Now, in the open mode of the house, the trees are pleasantly captured by the window frames. Stepping back for about three meters from the permitted construction boundary line allowed us to provide splendid daylight for the basement floors by inserting a glass fountain. The fitness and wellness areas are accommodated between this fountain and the basement pool where reflective installations reverberate the water’s radiance all over the space. The applied manufacturing technique for the turning mechanism was in fact a simple one; the same method which is currently employed in turning theatrical scenes, turning the floor of car exhibitions, steel companies and the shipping industry in Iran. But as our client himself was into importing CNC and other similar industrial German machines, he preferred the structural system to be fabricated in Germany. In doing so, he could engage his employees in the manufacturing process and thus train them for future maintenance purposes. Details of the handrails and air-penetration controlling methods were major issues considered in developing the design of the turning boxes. Designing foldable handrails and refining the edges of the boxes happened to be our feasible solutions. Considering the specialties of this kind of architecture, the structural system was inevitably a customized one. After digitally modeling the structure, a series of SAP2000 analysis were undertaken to examine static/dynamic performance of the proposed system. Being partially moveable is the dominant feature of this structural assembly, which was contemplated throughout the fabrication process by the German manufacturer company. The main loads all rest on the beams of the living rooms. Due to the various configurations the turning boxes may take, the loading calculation has been estimated based on the largest possible loading value applied to the system. Additionally, in order to prevent structural deformation controlling the probable vibrations in the turning boxes was taken into account during the design/calculations of the structure. The house was titled Sharifi-ha House, in honor of traditional Iranian mansions.

A dynamic design articulated to respond directly to its specific location. Height, colour, voids and form combine to express the client’s individuality through the architecture.