House on a Lake

We were asked to redesign an existing mid-century house on a lake in northwestern Rhode Island. Retaining the existing foundation, our strategy replaces the deteriorated vernacular framing with an energy-efficient, functional, and minimal volume. The house is a weekend retreat and a family gathering place, where sleeping, eating, and relaxation are informally arranged in a large, open central room. A low-slung roof provides shading and protection from the weather while allowing for expansive views of the water, and is designed to conceal a new mezzanine containing storage and mechanical systems. A new garage, deck, and boat shed contain an existing staircase that follows the very steep grade of the site and better organizes the use of the landscape. New site walls and drainage strategies were designed to allow water to better flow around the house and towards the lake. Passive house strategies were designed within a modest budget to ensure a low maintenance but high-performing envelope. In order to work with the existing septic system and to avoid environmental disruption, a new system would require per RI DEM guidelines, the renovation did not increase living space or fixtures but sought to optimize the existing space instead.

Unbuilt, 2018–19