SALA Architects Inc.

Designed by: Dale Mulfinger

Specifications

Square Footage

Total living area: 1,920
Total with basement: 2,928
Main Level: 1,008
Upper Level: 912
Basement: 1,008
Footprint: 52' 0" W x 38' 0" D

Rooms

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.5
Master suite: Upper Floor

Attributes

Levels: 2
Parking: Garage
Number of car stalls: 2
Foundation:

Modifiable to:

Basement

Crawlspace, Pier, Slab

Lot type(s):

Modifiable to:

Flat

Narrow, Sloping

Features

• Rustic Style
• Away Room

• Open Plan
• Wood Floors

• Economical Shape
• Gas Fireplace

Description

Designed by architects Deb Kees and Dale Mulfinger, the clean lines and modest, efficient shape of September House was inspired by homes of late nineteenth century mid-western river towns. The steep roof pitch and the long lines of the board and batten style siding give the home a rustic look. They also emphasize the vertical dimension of the design, giving the home much more visual "presence" than you would expect from its modest size. Simple double hung windows are in keeping with the clean lines and rustic look of the design.

The interior of this home is designed with a more modern open floorplan, and one which places the kitchen at the heart of daily activity. Like the exterior, the interior preserves the rustic feel of the vernacular, but it also has a clean, elegant feel as well. Most of the interior surfaces are actually economical painted wood or gyp board. With the original home, bold colors and contrasting white painted trim were used to make these surfaces visually stand out. However, key features make use of beautiful warm toned pine, which in the case of the original home came mostly from reclaimed sources. Floors and trim details were also made from this beautiful light colored wood. They match the island countertop and the exposed wooden beams of the home. Beams and lowered ceiling soffits are used throughout the main level to add dimension to the 9 foot ceilings. The dropped soffits do double duty: Architecturally they define spaces without the need for view blocking internal walls, and they also house much of the home's heating and cooling ducts.

Outdoor living also happens on the main level, at the home's covered front porch and at the rear screen porch. There is a separate entry directly from the covered porch into a mudroom/laundry area. This area is easily converted into an air lock style entry, which is good both for energy efficiency reasons, and is something we always recommend in homes with an attached garage.

The upper level contains all three bedrooms, each efficiently nestled below the slope of the roof. All three bedrooms as well as the hallway have 9 foot ceilings in the center, that gently slope down at the sides. The master bedroom has a convenient walk-thru closet, and the bath has a large tub and walk-in shower. The home's other two bedrooms are quite large, given the overall modest size of the design. They share a common bath.

The lower level of the home contains a large unfinished recreation area. While most people modify the basement level to match their particular lot and their needs, provisions were made for an office/study area, and also a full bath on this level.

Although very much at home in a rural location, the relatively small footprint of September House makes it a good choice for many suburban settings as well. Its simple foundation lines and roof design made of engineered roof trusses (modified raised heel scissor) make it one of our more economical homes to construct. The home's thicker 2x6 walls and its modest overall size also make it easier to insulate well. It will be both more economical to build and to heat and cool than most modern homes.

Floor Plans

(click to enlarge and view measurements)

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Home Plan Detail

Designed by: Matthew Bialecki

Matthew Bialecki Associates

Specifications

Square Footage

Total living area: 2,200
Total with basement: 3,650
Main Level: 2,200
Basement: 1,450
Footprint: 105' 0" W x 46' 0" D

Rooms

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2.0
Master suite: Main Floor

Attributes

Levels: 1

Foundation:

Modifiable to:

Basement, Slab

Crawlspace, Pier, Slab

Lot type(s):

Modifiable to:

Flat

Sloping

Features

• Passive Solar
• Open Floorplan
• Versitile Design

• Energy Efficient
• Large Fireplace

• Abundant Windows
• Radiant Heat

Description

Inspired by a view of the nearby Shawangunk Mountains, Meadow Ridge was originally built as a high-performance "green" building. The house is designed as an advanced passive solar structure with a strong emphasis on maximum energy efficiency and total passive cooling.

This home is an extension of its local landscape. Particularly in the living/dining/kitchen area with its large glass curtain wall, the home's natural stone flooring, exposed wood timbers and structural framing, and healthy natural lighting pass seamlessly from interior to exterior. The effect dissolves the normal boundaries between the site and the structure. On either side of the open central area of this single story home are two angled wings. One side contains the large private master suite, as well as the home's conveniently placed laundry. The other wing contains a bedroom, and a study that could easily be utilized as a library, office or the home's third bedroom.

The original home was carefully sited on a wooded hill overlooking a broad meadow with wide views of the mountains in the distance. The house is designed to frame the view and integrate naturally into the site. Old stone walls and glacial eratta at the original site were integrated into the design while sloped ceilings, generous windows, decks and terraces bring the house directly into the site and provide a wide variety of exterior environments to enjoy.

The exposed heavy timber structural frame and tongue in groove ceiling deck are of cypress, a material whose natural beauty and rot-resistant qualities made it possible to design an architectural landscape where materials pass from interior to exterior without change. The interior walls, trim and exterior siding all feature cypress paneling and timbers. Gypsum wallboard, soapstone, glass tile and ceramic tile were other primary finish materials. The walls feature a "rain screen" venting system between the shingles and sheathing for moisture control and uninterrupted thermal insulation. The masonry walls of the fireplace as well as the stone floor act as thermal storage, stabilizing the interior temperatures by absorbing and storing excess daytime heat, then slowly radiating that heat at night.

The walls, and fireplace (which provides secondary heating for the main room), are constructed of "Gunk-Crete," a specially formulated quartzite aggregate white concrete that is an analogue for the local stone. The roof structure is a unique "Umbrella Roof," designed to dissipate summer heat gain and passively cool the structure. Named for its inherent shading qualities, the Umbrella Roof is an innovative layered system comprised of high-performance insulation with a radiant barrier under recycled metal roof panels.

Careful orientation and site placement insure natural breezes ventilate the house via the abundant well-placed windows. Existing or planted trees can be used to shade the structure. The heating system is a highly efficient radiant floor heating system embedded in the concrete slab and stone floor.

Floor Plans

(click to enlarge and view measurements)

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