Built on a 25 acre bald eagle preserve, the basic parameters were a retirement home for the client and a “bunkhouse” for his frequent guests, both should require as little maintenance as possible and could potentially function off-grid.

The resulting project is a double house with a sinuous white box above connecting to a bunkhouse buried in the side of the hill below through the kitchen and dining room area at ground level. The one level separation between the two activity areas gives the client his desired privacy while always having activity close at hand. The design acknowledges the natural beauty of the site to create an ecological dwelling, minimize the impact on the site and achieve a delicate fusion of architecture and landscape. The house emerges from the topography and enhances the surrounding nature without competing with it.

The home’s wooden facade of operable insulated shutters is one of its dynamic features. Full height shutters can be opened during the day to allow in daylight and passive solar heat, or closed after sunset on cold days for added insulation. The shutters can transform the facade from 75% to 25% window area. The insulated shutters are calculated to provide an additional 15% savings on heating yearly. The outside surfaces of the shutters are covered by efficient nano-solar thin filmed panels. With the Roof integrated PV shingles, this system will produce on average between 30%-40% of the power needs of the home.The eco-paver system and sloping roof are designed to maximize rain and snow water collection with storage cisterns in the basement.

CLIENT: Priamo Espillat
TYPE: commission
PROGRAM: residence
SIZE: 4500SF
BUDGET: $1,500,000
STATUS: ongoing