Richard Barnes
A glass curtain wall at the ground floor heightens the drama of …
The trees that cover its site inspired many elements of this lakeside retreat, say architects Andrew Bernheimer and Jared Della Valle. Its massing spreads in deep cantilevers “as a sort of artificial tree canopy,” Bernheimer explains.
A unique system of scarfed plywood floor joists and a corresponding pattern of exterior wall battens refer to tree rings. The architects manipulated window placement and interior elements to capture the feeling of sunlight filtering through leaves and branches. And the rooftop deck, which doubles as a home theater, has a distinctly treehouselike character.
An elaborate framework of steel Vierendeel trusses allows the solid masses of the second floor to float, seemingly unsupported, over the glass curtain wall of the first floor. But despite the hidden mineral content, the building retains a distinctly woody feeling. As one judge noted, “This is skillfully done.”
Project Credits
Entrant/Architect: Della Valle Bernheimer, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Builder: Hammersmith, Sharon, Conn.
Living space: 5,400 square feet
Site: 0.61 acre
Construction cost: Withheld
Photographer: Richard Barnes
Product Specs
Bathroom fittings, bathroom cabinets: Rifra; Bathroom fixtures: Gessi USA; Cooktop: Gaggenau USA/Canada; Countertops, kitchen cabinets, kitchen fittings: Schiffini Mobili Cucine S.p.A.; Dishwasher: Bosch USA; Flooring (ceramic tile/stone/concrete): Ann Sacks Tile & Stone, StoneSource; Garbage disposer: In-Sink-Erator; Hardware: FSB USA, Rajack Designs; HVAC equipment: Uponor, Viessmann Manufacturing Co.; Insulation: BioBased Insulation; Kitchen fixtures: Dornbracht Americas; Lighting fixtures: BEGA/US, Nulux; Oven/range: Dacor; Paints/stains/wall finishes: Benjamin Moore & Co.; Refrigerator: Sub-Zero; Windows: Fleetwood Windows & Doors
