Posted On Wed, March 15, 2017 By Rebecca Paul In Architecture, Getting Away, Interiors, Upstate

Posted On Wed, March 15, 2017 By Rebecca Paul In Architecture, Getting Away, Interiors, Upstate

While many vacation homes are the result of an elaborate design process and lengthy construction, this house located in rural New York was designed and then built using prefabricated elements in just a couple of days. The U.S. firm Desai Chia Architecture is responsible for the single-story rectilinear space, also known as LM Guest House. The 2,000-square-foot prefab oasis is located in Dutchess County (about two hours north of Manhattan) and situated on a rocky outcrop of land that overlooks a trout pond and farm.

The home was designed to be a contemplative retreat for weekend visitors, and the experience is enhanced by unobstructed views of the surrounding landscape. The open views allow nature to provide a stunning backdrop for the main living and sleeping areas.

Additionally, the home integrates various sustainable design components including natural ventilation, geothermal heating and cooling, radiant flooring, solar shades, and rainwater harvesting used for irrigation.

The middle of the structure houses the bedrooms, bathroom, and storage rooms within a slatted wood core. The woods slats are part of a larger wood wall system that allows for natural daylight to permeate the space during the day, and a warm inviting glow as the sun sets. The system also contributes to home’s overall ventilation.

The foundation of the home is provided by four steel columns that are embedded into the wood core. The surrounding structure is constructed using as few materials as possible. The facade was designed to be a high-performance, thermally robust system mode up of triple-paned glass panels.

The entire structure was assembled off-site, shipped in one container, and constructed by a crane in just two days time.

Designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, the home’s site plays an important role in the overall design, passively interacting with inhabitants through the all-glass exterior.

See more work from this innovative architecture office here.

All images via Desai Chia Architecture

Tags : Desai Chia Architecture, dutchess county, LM Guest House

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