Woodstock, Vermont
Architecture | Birdseye |
|---|---|
Interior | Brooke Michelsen Design |
Landscape | Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture |
Building | Birdseye |
Photography | Michael Moran |
Completed | 2022 |
Type | Single-family Residence |
Recognition | 2022 AIA VT Honor Award |
A family vacation home named for the Grateful Dead’s song “Terrapin Station” about a “metaphoric oasis, whether that be a higher state of consciousness or an escape from the banalities of reality.”
The project program includes a 2-car garage, mudroom, powder room, laundry, living room, kitchen, screened porch, office, exercise room, 5 bedrooms, and a bunk room for grandchildren. Exterior features include a living room deck, primary suite deck, firepit, and hot tub.
AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE
The project design and construction capture the primary principals of the framework for design excellence. The integration of the architecture into the landscape connects the living experience to the context, elevating the overall connection to the environment. The project design team fully collaborated with the building team throughout the construction process, creating a more holistic experience. All landscape plantings are native and do not require watering. Rain capture for the project is all directed through roof collection boxes and downspouts. Water capture and erosion control is mitigated through a perimeter washed stone belt that receives the runoff. The exterior material palette of western red cedar is the predominant siding finish of the house, creating typical details that enhance efficiency. Terrapin is designed for a healthy indoor experience, implementing strategies such as a fresh air exchanger, operable windows, low VOC finishes, and filtered drinking water. The project HVAC is an electric-based heat pump system that is supported by a 15kw ground-mounted photo voltaic array. The building envelope is thermally broken. R40 walls and R60 roofs/floors with triple-pane window units contribute to a highly efficient building. The project is designed and built to be resilient and capable of sustaining extreme weather situations and fully operational with a power failure. The home is accessible through a deck gate and removable ramp.
