Montreal-based Studio MMA, in collaboration with Red House Building, was commissioned to design this high-efficiency modern house on Grand Isle, Vermont, nestled on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. Taking four years to complete, the house was designed for an empty-nest couple from France to have a self-contained primary space, joined by a central connector, to a single-level guest area featuring an office and music room.
The robust performance package features triple-glazed windows and doors from Europe, along with a high-efficiency heating and cooling system. Stone veneer panels offer a striking contrast to the sugi-ban wood siding. The polygonal and vaulted great room space is defined by expansive walls of glass, white oak floors, and slat walls, along with an ash ceiling.
DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Studio MMA GENERAL CONTRACTOR Red House Building STRUCTURAL ENGINEER Artisan Engineering LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Knauf Landscape Architecture
Set on the shore of Lake Champlain, this dwelling is surrounded by apple and cedar trees, overlooking the Adirondacks.
The site offers incredible 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, several elements were integrated into the design 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 reduces the solar exposure of the large glazed expanses facing South-West.
What We Love: This high-efficiency Vermont lake house offers an idyllic setting on the shores of Lake Champlain, surrounded by apple and cedar trees with sweeping views of the Adirondacks. Designed for an empty-nest couple, the home features a beautiful and spacious owner’s bedroom suite, as well as a connected guest wing that includes a music room and office. We love the bold design elements—from the striking mix of sugi-ban wood siding and stone veneer to the soaring, polygonal great room with its white oak floors, ash ceiling, and expansive walls of glass.
Tell Us: What details do you find most inspiring in the design of this Vermont lake house? Let us know in the Comments below!
Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other amazing home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in the state of Vermont: A serene getaway gets beautifully transformed in Vermont’s Green Mountains and Tour this Vermont barn inspired getaway designed with inviting warmth.
PHOTOGRAPHER Ryan Bent Photography
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