SALA Architects
salaarc.com

David O’Brien Wagner, AIA; Max Ouellette-Howitz, AIA

Orchard House

Project Type: New Build

The owners desired a home that would match their living needs to a unique site bordered by an orchard to the north and open meadows to the south. Hiring an architect allowed for their spaces to be tailored to their families activities, interests, and landscape. 

Orchard House is set among apple trees and along a southern meadow. The home is organized on an east-west axis for passive solar design, while aligning vistas from the home into the tree rows. A simple palette of corrugated siding, thermally modified wood planks, galvanized structure, and Douglas fir combine harmoniously to create a quiet presence on the landscape.

The home’s modern sensibility allows for open living that flows effortlessly into the contours of the site. Warm interior wood combines with colorful splashes of cabinetry and furnishings, lending a comfortable and casual feel to interior spaces. The home speaks to an authenticity of materials and craft that uniquely fits the bucolic setting and the family’s values of simple living.

Structure was kept simple and expressive with steel post and beam construction, layered with glue-laminated timbers to create a visually expressive support system. Post and beam design was selected to allow for expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that open the home to its natural surroundings.

AIA Framework for Design Excellence: Design for Change, Ecosystems, Integration, and Well-being

Orchard House is wholly designed for well-being. The building’s long axis runs east-west, taking advantage of plentiful views - a working apple orchard is sited to the north and an open meadow and wildlife preserve occupy the south. Large glass doors capture these panoramic views and open to decks, terraces and porches, seamlessly blending indoor comfort with outdoor living. The orientation minimizes solar heat gain while facilitating ample daylight. This access to natural light positively impacts the mental health of occupants, further promoting wellness and allowing architecture to connect inhabitants with the surrounding landscape.

What is the AIA Framework for Design Excellence? Learn more »