In collaboration with a Landscape Architecture professor (Lisa duRussell) at Penn State, I designed her 'dream house' on a pre-selected site south of the University's campus. Exceptionally devoted to her career and one true passion, Lisa didn't want to leave her experience of nature and landscape design at the work place, but instead to have an even better connection to the two when she settled down at home.
As per her request, the design and property became less about actual manipulation of the site and landscape but rather the orientation and manipulation of the house in efforts to cater the experience towards viewing of and immersion into the woods surrounding it.
The front half of the house, where Lisa's most important spaces are located at, is mostly glazed and offers unobstructed views into the private wooded area ahead. Gardening terraces flank the house on the left (picture below).
(Front Yard During the Winter)
Meanwhile, the rear of the residence is a more solid brick-and-stone clad envelope, offering a more exclusive and private facade to face the street-side. With less transparency and lighting, the natural walls better disappear into the surrounding foliage, allowing the property to vanish from the grid and neighborhood and become its own world.
(Entry Facade)
The most important spaces to Lisa and her husband—the living room and master bedroom—were to be placed at the fore of the property and with a high level of transparency to the outdoors, the spaces would merge into the nature.
(Spacious Master Bedroom and Study)
(Living Room)
The driveway winds in from the street and reaches the house in a roundabout manner. Entrants ascend a catwalk, suspended above a bed of plants to preserve them, and enter into solid-looking rear of the residence. Immediately, they reach the juncture of kitchen, living room, and stairs to the upper story.
(Ground Floor Plan)
The Master Bedroom offers an elevated study, where either of the adult professors can continue their work; a lounge, with cozy views of nature; a deck, for exposure to nature during nice weather; a fireplace, for warmth during harsh State College winters; master bath and walk-in closet, for cleanly space separate from guest spaces; and ample space for multi-functionality.
A spacious spare bedroom and full bathroom surround the rest of the shared balcony.
(Upper Floor Plan)
(Basement Floor Plan)
(Satellite Site Plan)
(Entry Elevation)
(Front Elevation)
(Longitudinal Section)
(Tranverse Section)
