In my final semester of graduate school I partnered with Brian Williams, and together we worked to integrate an abandon residential structure back into the landscape through program and the introduction of passive architectural strategies. The idea of thickening or layering guided our decisions on what to add and subtract from the existing footprint of the building: we thickened the section with storage space, structural bookcases and loft space to reinforce the existing structure, and removed layers of existing floor, ceiling and wall construction to expose the “pre-condition” of the structure and informing new additions. Our material pallet was sourced and inspired by the larger context of Morven: loblolly pine, clay, stone, brick, gabion walls, board and batten construction. We wanted the landscape to be an extension of the architecture and the architecture to reinforce the landscape. This was accomplished in a number of ways including:
- evergreen trees as insulation and wind block to the NW for shelter from winter winds
- deciduous trees to the south as a shading device in the summer
- visual and physical connection between the kitchen and kitchen garden + orchard
- re-establishing the vineyards as a productive and active landscape
- on site water filtration
- conceptual ventilation chimneys