West End Garden House

Recognizing the client’s meticulous attention to the garden, we agreed it was essential to design an exterior that matched this level of discipline. We landed on an exterior cladding layout that combined wood species, textures and colors, meant to appear as another pattern within the landscape. The lapped siding is black locust, a durable hardwood with varying grain patterns, stained a light silver to complement the surrounding greenery. To add contrast, the darker stained, Alaskan yellow cedar battens set a vertical rhythm across the facade. These horizontal and vertical lines define a module which in turn helps generate the exterior features of the house.

Many features of the house are a direct response to the exterior context — a central patio space, an office with views of the garden, a large second floor deck. The West End Garden home is a study in how a unique exterior context can impact design and provide a new home to live in fully, with grace and style.

The form of the West End Garden House is also influenced by sustainable design concepts.

Because a highly energy-efficient home was desired and the layout was rather simple, the project became the perfect candidate for a Larsen Truss, a unique method of framing that maximizes the depth of “outsulation” on the exterior walls by installing engineered wood I-joists vertically and filling their cavities with dense-packed cellulose insulation. This gets the house to a near R-60 wall performance, and with careful air sealing details, a .73 ACH50 — a very airtight space.

Durability plays another role in the choice of going with a Larsen Truss wall assembly. The system is vapor-open, meaning it can always, and easily, dry out (in both directions). There is virtually zero risk in condensation or moisture accumulation, which means virtually zero risk in mold, mildew, or decay.