Nature-Near Design: A new home rising next to the Mad River

What does nature-near design mean to you? I've been using this term a bit while describing a residence we are working on in our office. I use this term perhaps for many reasons, but a primary one is because the dwelling is sited to connect to the remnants of an old Dam off of a beautiful portion of forested land of the Mad River near Middlesex in North Central Vermont. The dam forms a strong edge to the north part of the home and creates a datum along which the entire building is organized. The easternmost portion of the home practically juts out over the River in a symbiotic and respectful manner with fabulous southern views downriver.

The building literally comes out of the earth with the stone dam edge anchoring it against the steep stream edge. It has strong horizontal lines with stone cladding and a slate waterline encircling the home. The stone is being harvested from generations-old stone farm walls from the site. The flat roof will have deep overhangs emphasizing the horizontal qualities helping to tie it back into the landscape. A green roof is being designed to mitigate stormwater impacts on the nearby stream. Heavy timber fir roof framing is currently being erected on site.

Numerous renewable energy features are in the process of being installed on site. In front of the building a pond is being constructed to provide a safe swimming environment and do double duty as a heat sink and to tie into the radiant heating & cooling system in the home. A nearby stream will provide water to the pond. A portion of its flow will be diverted along a pipe snaking through the woods feeding into the pond.

Photovoltaic electric panels are going to be installed on the river side of the building as well as directly south-facing atop a wood shed building adjacent to the building. An orchard of Solar Tracker PV electric panels will be installed in a nearby field a few hundred feet from the building.

I will be posting images of the building soon. (Here are some images now!!!)

Western view

Watercolor site plan, Stephen M. Frey

Main entry view

River view of the home

Post-script note: This River House project was designed during my time serving as Design Director at Maclay Architects. I was part of the Design Team of many that brought this beautiful project to life! What a once in a lifetime opportunity it was. I worked at Maclay Architects from 2001 through the late Summer of 2010.  An inspiring foundational time as a younger architect. Working there truly kindled by desire to commit my architectural design life to sustainable modern spirited design and exploring the concepts of Nature-Near. 

Interested in learning more? 

You can find us now at www.arocordisdesign.com, the website of our Montpelier, Vermont-based residential architecture firm practice Arocordis Design. If you want to contact us there, click on this link. 

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