The Context:
Built in the 1970’s the existing house had an unusual and eclectic character that the current owners loved, including a wide variety of recycled doors, windows, interior finishes, and an exposed post & beam barn structure. Despite the perfect south-facing orientation, however, the existing house provided low thermal comfort and high utility bills. The interior was gloomy and cut off from the surrounding garden and fields of the ten-acre property. The basement was awash with water and silt after every heavy rain. A beautiful private pond was virtually invisible from most living and bedroom spaces. A separate guest house/ studio, built in the 1990’s, far from the main house, greatly disrupted natural ground water flows across much of the site.
The response:
A deep energy retrofit – to drastically reduce energy needs, with Net Zero as the goal. New windows and dormers – to greatly improve the relationship of the house to the south and the pond. New doors and porches – to open the house to a variety of exterior spaces. Reduce space needs and combine functions – to reduce the overall building footprint. Relocate the existing guest house/studio building and driveway – to improve ground water flows.