The planning of the house celebrates the three main features of the site: the Battenkill River, the open meadow, and the advancing forest (the Zen Den).

Battenkill is constructed with a thermally broken envelope and insulated with closed-cell polyurethane with R-60 roofs and R-40 walls. A geothermal heating and cooling system are offset with a 15kw ground-mounted solar array. Meticulous air sealing detailing is reflected at all plate-to-foundation connections, window and door perimeters, and all wall penetrations. Fresh air exchange is mechanically delivered through a whole-house HRV system. Passive shading window slats are installed at south-facing windows on the first floor and are continued around the base as an architectural feature. The site was raised above the flood plain elevation, and the project incorporates resilient design through flood plain management.