SMALL FIRM
The team was tasked with designing a highly contemporary steel and glass house on a private island in the Thousand Islands. The clients desired an “off-the-grid” residence, accessible year-round, featuring an essentially flat roof system.
CONTEMPORARY ISLAND HOUSE Thousand Islands, New York Submitted by: Taylored Architecture PLLC Photo Credit: © Brad Loperfido, Revette Studio
MERIT AWARD “The white oak covered steel frame floor and roof planes lightly float as homage to the water and long horizon line. The black columns and window frames recede to make one ever aware of this place in the seascape.”
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The design evolved from a structural grid of steel columns supporting a substantial steel roof framing system. Close collaboration with engineers and fabricators resulted in a dynamic structure. The steel columns are exposed on the exterior, rendering all exterior walls non-load-bearing. This facilitated the installation of floor-to-ceiling modern sliding doors and windows without the need for expressed headers. White oak interior flooring was utilized as the interior ceiling material and extended onto the exterior ceilings/soffits, blurring the distinction between the interior and exterior of the building. A double-cantilevering 30-foot roof creates a dynamic presence from the grounds and deck. Aiming to seamlessly integrate the structure with the natural landscape, the flat roof also provides a calming, level experience on this low-lying island within a large bay. A Corten steel fascia accentuates the design’s structural expression. The house was conceived to gracefully hover above the island’s natural landscape. This off-grid residence utilizes a self-adjusting solar array to meet all electrical needs. A backup generator is installed on the island, and two buried propane tanks provide supplementary energy during winter months when solar output is reduced. The system has operated effectively, enabling the clients to enjoy the property and house throughout the year.