After closely developing and redeveloping our scheme over the semester, we arrived at a solution: two wings joined together by a common kitchen core. The coexistence of two families is choreographed by boundaries, both indoor and outdoor, seen and unseen. Our concept of indoor and outdoor rooms provide a balance of private ritual and public togetherness.

The inset kitchen, wedged between two sides, creates an entrance court and an elevated rear patio overlooking the common area (pictured above). There are floor to ceiling windows that look into the more leisurely parts of the home and show panoramic views of nature outside, while the punched-in windows at the back capture smaller, discreet views of the surroundings. The roof is a taut skin, meeting the walls right at the corner, like a knife-edge. A warm wood hugs the house’s facade, and a row of birches and red oak greet visitors when they walk in. Nature and nurture work together to create a home.