This house was designed for a family of 8. Their desire was to create more living space but at the same time to not lose the feeling of unity and togetherness virtually mandated by their previous home – a typical three-bedroom house. The design solution is reminiscent of a lodge. A generous central living space incorporating a great room as well as the dining room and kitchen is at the heart of the house. A children’s “study loft” and a home office become elements adjacent to the primary living space. In contrast to the spatial complexity of the main living area – the bedrooms are straightforward and rather modest by contemporary standards.

The house’s relatively planar front façade helps create a sense of enclosure for the arrival court – required as an accommodation for cars but also likely to see heavy use as a roller hockey/basketball court, wiffle ball/kickball stadium and canvas for sidewalk chalk artists of various ages. The rear of the house, in contrast, finds expression as a collection of more articulated and fenestrated elements. These take advantage of a various vistas including a barn and pasture as well as woods.