This project is the realization of AMA’s long-held architectural goal of designing healthy and sustainable homes. In early discussions with our client, a couple who had spent their careers in healthcare, we settled on the following spatial organization for the new home: 1) an upper level living space perched over the sloping site with views of the harbor and the Long Island Sound beyond, and 2) a two-story interior space suited for nurturing a growing tree. This atrium at the core of the house would serve as a “living” environment for reflection and recuperation and would be experienced throughout the two levels of the house both visually and acoustically with the accompanying sound of the atrium’s fountain.

While the building form is bold, the interior spaces are quiet, multi-functional, and edited. The home is compact, consumes little energy and requires minimal ongoing maintenance given the application of durable, weather-resistant materials. The exterior wall assembly is rigorously detailed for ultimate thermal performance made possible with four inches of exterior insulation along with triple-glazed windows and doors. An array of rooftop photovoltaics combined with heat pumps contribute to near zero-carbon emissions. The durable and sustainable cladding products are panelized with open joints that meticulously weave around the exterior of the house. A deep roof overhang and balcony wrap the east and south facades and provide solar shading. Additionally, the large windows are covered with aluminum louvers that diffuse direct sunlight and provide textural interest on both the outside and inside.

Every inch of the compact sloping site is put to use. The dimensions of the atrium space spill out into the landscape, designed by JDDA, with an outdoor pergola and forecourt animated with organic and curvilinear shapes of a Zen-garden, including raked shells, a topiary tree and rock formations. The covered entry walkway is lined with vine-growing louvers continuing the integration of plant material throughout and around the house. The house is sited high above the road and recessed into the hill with a stone base. Stairs crisscross the slope leading up to the outdoor living spaces and the raised gardens.