In 2019, our clients commissioned us to design a new house on Grand Isle in Vermont, on the Eastern shore of Lake Champlain. The site offers wonderful lake views and direct access to the waterside for swimming. The potential for design, planning and integration with the natural characteristics of the site was both rich and inspiring.

The spaces to be integrated into the house are simple and conventional; the quality of the whole is created by the arrangement, sizing and juxtaposition of spaces. The house is subdivided to separate the main living spaces from those of the children and visitor areas, with common areas arranged on the facades with views of the lake. In addition to the desire to frame views of the natural scenery, the lake and the Adirondack peaks visible on the South-West horizon, the natural beauty of the setting sun is visible in all seasons.

To accommodate the house’s orientation to the South-West, our design integrated several elements to ensure the owner’s comfort and the control of thermal gains and losses, including high thermal resistance values, triple-glazed windows, a deep roof overhang and a screen-wall that reduce the solar exposure of the large glazed expanses facing South-West.

The choice of interior and exterior materials was carefully considered by our clients, with our participation in guiding the design and the choice of finishes for the staircase and integrated furniture.

Planning phase : 2019-2022

Construction phase: 2021-2023

General contractor: Red House Building

Structural engineer: Artisan Engineering

Landscape architect: Knauf Landscape Architecture

Photographer: Ryan Bent Photography