CREATING A SELF-CONTAINED WORLD
Design Intent:
Our goal was to use all the existing elements of the property - existing structures and landscape features - in combination with new elements to
create an idyllic "green" ex-urban compound.
We propose certain minimal changes be done to the existing main house to give it a more harmonious connection to the land. A small amount of
remodeling would be done as follows: the addition of a natural wood roof, a green arbor to the garage, and a series of new broad stone terraces
at the front and rear that would connect the interior more graciously to the exterior.
We propose creating a "green" estate by salvaging existing structures. A derelict open-air pavilion would be converted to a new "summer house"
with new screen walls, louvered shutters, and a roof and terrace that would match the character of the main house. Opposite the summerhouse, we
propose adding a new green house built from all recycled materials, detailed to match the remodeled main house and summer house. These three
building would be symmetrically arranged around the southern edge of the pond that lies at the heart of the land; a new pond dock constructed
from all regionally sourced materials would serve as the focal point to this compound.
At the heart of the design is the desire to produce more energy than the property can consume. In the pond we propose adding geo-thermal systems
to heat and cool all structures on the property. On the northern end of the property, we propose creating a miniature "energy" farm, rebuilding
an abandoned shed to be a barn-like studio/guest house with solar panels on the roof. The farm would also contain two wind turbines to make this
structure completely self-sustaining. With the help of Anthony O. Pereira at altPOWER, Inc., our research shows that the implementation of
geothermal, solar, and wind technologies will roughly cut the energy consumption of the compound in half. The goal is that as future technology
allows for greater performance to produce greater energy, the electricity generated by the farm that is above and beyond what is needed by the
house would be sold back to the power company.
The landscape architecture of the property would be inspired by both romantic and green design techniques. The compound of buildings and their
adjoining terraces flank a modest, easy-to-maintain lawn that is irrigated by two cisterns that collect rainwater from all three structures.
Other landscape features surrounding these buildings would be an organic vegetable garden, a compost field, a salt-water pool, an herb terrace,
and a woodland boardwalk through the fern laden woodlands that border the property. Native grasses, wildflowers, and wetland plantings would
surround the remaining areas of the property. The farm also serves as a bucolic focal point from the main house as well as a romantic destination
for walks around the land. At the northern most end of the property-on axis to the center of the main house is a new wood bridge that leads out
to the running creek that borders the land creating the final destination for all paths.
Design Team:
Dennis Wedlick
Joe Koelbel
George Jaramillo
Patrick Fitzgerald
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