Hygge

Burlington, Vermont | 2018

Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a Danish word used to acknowledge a special feeling or moment. It can be alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary but it is always cozy, charming or special. A pleasant and highly valued everyday experience of safety, equality, personal wholeness and a spontaneous social flow

Located along Vermont’s eastern shoreline of Lake Champlain in a densely populated lake-side neighborhood, the residence is situated on the footprint of a former residence demolished due to water damage and the presence of lead, mold and asbestos. The demolition required abatement according to state and federal laws. The new house is a single-story structure with 850 square feet of interior space, divided into common areas; lake-side to the west, bedrooms and utility facing street-side to the east. An extended gable with storage wing walls provides privacy, protection and shelter for the living areas and covered deck. Storage space is designed into the attic trusses and the crawl space houses the building infrastructure. Disturbance was limited to the existing footprint, mitigating stress on the surrounding ecosystem and neighborhood.

The design parti derives from the idea of creating a home that reflects the essential. An architectural language that is edited and is from the necessary; the simple rectangle plan, the elongated gable roof structure defining entry and porch, the minimalist palette of cedar siding and metal roof all contribute to the feeling of honest expression. The architecture is designed to create an intimate relationship between the occupants and the landscape. This connection to our existence in time embodies the meaning of HYGGE.