Slide-By House - Estes Twombly + Titrington Architects

INFO

The site for this house was a 200 year old field that was subdivided into 4 equal lots. We tried to overcome this arbitrary pattern with a design and site plan that preserved the agrarian nature of the land. We kept the building profiles low and kept the shapes very simple, in keeping with local farm architecture. The 18’ wide gable, for the main uses is complimented by a flat roof area for a porch/carport. A simple two gable overlap arrangement provided the best combination of sun, view, and privacy. We also kept the materials and details simple. 1” x 12” eastern white pine boards, locally cut and air dried on site, are used for all siding, soffits and trim. The roofing is 5- V-Crimp galvalume. All rakes and eaves have an 8” overhang. Openings are minimized and grouped so the building forms become stronger. For the site layout, we worked the edges of the lot, rather than the middle, leaving more space for the original field. The simple and straightforward interiors follow the same principals as the outside. Every major space reflects the gable section. The slide-by layout reads inside with views of the long outside facades juxtaposed with the long interior halls. The house is all electric, with 37 solar roof panels. It has been operating at net zero for a year. The long N/S axis prevents excessive heat gain or loss at the large glass areas and provides good orientation for the solar panels.