TWIST

INPUT

A young couple describing themselves as “two plus dogs” requested their home feature a great kitchen with ample room for chefs and guests. They desired an overall aesthetic combining modern and traditional. Chosen for its spectacular coastal view, their site presented but a sliver of buildable level terrain, between bold ledge and steep slope.

DESIGN

Plan

A plan organized around a central kitchen location – positioned for commanding water views – supports culinary and entertaining use. The restricted site and topography posed special challenges, requiring an oblique approach to the house. The design was solved through a parti of skewed geometries. To avoid an awkward fit with the land, the main axis of the house aligns with the topography; skewed terrace, deck, and balcony elements induce an orientation sympathetic to the off-axis viewscape. Carried through the plan, that angulation rotates the entrance favorably to welcome visitors. Additionally, internal circulation and space allocation gained efficiency with the skew overlay. The synchronicity of this parti: subtle modern “twist” introduced both inside and outside the traditional form of the house.

Exterior

Interplay between traditional and modern expression is reinforced by exterior details. Classically proportioned windows are pared down to a spare muntin layout; exterior casings are eliminated in favor of crisp shingle returns. Eaves are knife edge, frieze and cornice abstracted to taut bands. Over-scale grids float above smooth panel siding, affording purchase for climbing greenery.

Interior

In the entry, an opening above low shelves frames one’s view through dining to the living room fireplace; a glimpse of kitchen appears down a corridor – thus, all living areas are intriguingly revealed upon entry. A perforated wall separating the living room affords visual connectedness and distributed natural light while creating formally defined spaces. At the crux of the skew, copious space at the island encourages socializing and cooking, central to the owner’s lifestyle. Further juxtaposing traditional and modern, kitchen cabinet fronts marry varnished cherry with brushed stainless steel.

SUSTAINABILITY

Vegetated roofs cover the living room, breezeway, and entry. Passive solar was achieved via limited north fenestration and broad glazed expanses south. Advanced R-4 glazing and spray-foam insulation were specified for energy efficiency, as was energy-conserving radiant floor heat and condensing LP boiler. The building’s compact, cube-like overall form yields a favorable volume-to-skin ratio. Energy Star appliances, dual-flush toilets, and high-efficiency lighting contribute to sustainability, along with renewable bamboo flooring.