R-House is the prototype residence designed by Architecture Research Office with Della Valle Bernheimer and constructed by Home HeadQuarters Inc in Syracuse, NY in 2010.

R-House presents an affordable, innovative paradigm for minimal energy consumption embodied in architecture that nurtures the spirit and engages the community. Its compact exterior belies expansive and luminous spaces within. The design meets the German Passivhaus standard, requiring only the equivalent energy of a hair dryer for heating. 

R-House transforms a typical gabled roof into a simply folded surface that recalls the appearance and scale of neighboring houses. Tucked within the house are a front porch and rear deck whose translucent walls cast an inviting glow after dark. Windows and skylights open the interior to views and are optimized to receive south light. The roof and walls are sheathed with corrugated aluminum. The silver color, muted reflectivity and fine texture of this cladding contribute to a sense of vibrancy that counters the gray winter months.

The 1,100sf interior is airy and bright. A two-story tall space on the south side of the house, lit by large windows that open to a view of the rear yard, is bounded by the stairwell and the Master Bedroom on the second floor. Humble, carefully detailed materials, such as concrete, wood floor boards and plywood panels, imbue warmth and integrity.