HA_ph

HA Passive House is located adjacent to the intersection of a wetlands and forested hillside one hour and a half train ride north of New York City. The owners, both professional artists, asked for a minimalized impact but open design that can accommodate a multimedia studio.

The catalysts of the window geometry is in honor of the early paintings of Mondrian, who systematically painted a tree broken down to its basic elements. Likewise, the tall stacked windows reflect in rudimentary form the diverse forested canopy of the site. The simplified boxy form is a literal nod to the interior of the area’s historic covered bridges.

Functionally the massing helps reduce heat loss, improve the cost efficiency, and provide a large interior volume relative to the 1450 square foot floor plan.