The Property and Exposure:
The building site is a small sloping lot above a flood plain with fields to the north and west, and a clearing with woodland to the south. To the east is a steep wooded bank above a pristine stream.
Post and Beam Design:
Treetop Builders have built a number of post-and-beam homes in the Burlington, Vermont area over the past 15 years. The structural engineer designed the vaulted roof members that join the ell to the main house, and the builder designed the roof for the dining ell, a partial rounded pavilion-type roof. The dining ell and small greenhouse under it are south-facing with tile flooring which assists passive solar collection.
Energy-Saving Installations:
The heating design includes multiple heat sources: propane-fueled floor radiant heat, assisted by a small Vermont Castings catalytic wood stove and passive solar collection. An air exchange system ventillates the kitchen and bathrooms, preheating cold winter air before circulating fresh air into other parts of the house. An acquaintance of the owner also arranged a pilot installation of an energy-efficient well pump for the 520-ft well. The house has floor radiant heat throughout, including the basement slab. Bathrooms have heating assistance from Myson heated towel racks, and a wall-panel Myson heater is installed in the upstairs office. The owner has installed energy star lighting fixtures and energy star appliances throughout and received energy star certification from Efficiency Vermont through the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation.
Interior Features:
The owner envisioned a 40' x 28' Cape Cod concept house with a chalet-like living room wing and a gazebo dining nook. To join 16' two-story living room to the main portion of the house, the builder's engineer came up with beautiful vaulted exposed rafter detail with tongue-and-groove ceiling. The house also has substatial project areas: a full above-ground basement with a small greenhouse, a workroom, and a spacious two-car heated garage.
The house has both public and private areas: a slate-tiled west-facing entrance near the wood shop contrasts with the sheltered outlook to the south and east which opens onto a 40' deck overlooking a ravine and bubbling stream. The master bedroom and living room both have spectacular private views and access to the deck through double glass doors. The open concept first floor has engineered bamboo flooring throughout. The upstairs office, TV viewing area, and bedrooms are floored with cork. One of the bedrooms has an intimate gambrel-type ceiling which allows the second bedroom to have the addition of a sleeping loft/play area for children. The upstairs bathroom and west-facing bedroom each have opening skylights. The open-plan kitchen has glass-fronted cherry cabinets and granite counters with native cherry counter accents and cork flooring.
Landscaping:
An innovative landscaping plan integrates the house with a barn-like shop 30' away and solves the design challenge of a 10' drop to the garage. Richard Stockwell and Robert Bechard, site engineers in the area, protected the landscaping and provided drainage and stream bank stabilization in this fragile site with gabions of white stones in metal cages. The owner has landscaped with native stone and plantings on top of the gabion walls. A curving gravel-surfaced driveway leaves ample room for perennial plantings and a seasonal rose bed.