Architecture
Modern Architecture
Houzz Tour: High Efficiency for a Modern Riverside Cabin
With an insulating green roof, savvy material use and a smart design, this home in the woods wastes not in a beautiful way
Everyone has a method and place for getting their best thinking done. For an ex–Army Reserves captain who now builds databases, his best ideas strike him when he’s pacing back and forth in a quiet space. This formed the basis for his weekend retreat in Shohola, Pennsylvania, which architect Jerry Caldari designed.
The large, rectangular mass has plenty of walking room, with calming views of the Delaware River and the surrounding woods. But Caldari’s smart, economical design moves are probably what ease the homeowner’s mind most. For example, Caldari designed the house to perfectly accommodate standard sheets of plywood so there’d be less cutting and waste. The home is exactly five sheets of plywood wide, two sheets high and 15 sheets long. Plus, Caldaris kept the materials raw, cutting down on painting and maintenance costs over time.
Meanwhile, thick walls and a 12-inch green roof help save on energy costs. And the homeowner saved money by building a network and website for Caldari’s architecture firm in exchange for the design plans. Now that’s some smart thinking.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: An ex–Army Reserves captain, his wife and their 2 kids
Location: Shohola, Pennsylvania
Design team: Bromley Caldari Architects; Lust Woodworks (builder)
Size: About 2,000 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Photography by Mikiko Kikuyama
The large, rectangular mass has plenty of walking room, with calming views of the Delaware River and the surrounding woods. But Caldari’s smart, economical design moves are probably what ease the homeowner’s mind most. For example, Caldari designed the house to perfectly accommodate standard sheets of plywood so there’d be less cutting and waste. The home is exactly five sheets of plywood wide, two sheets high and 15 sheets long. Plus, Caldaris kept the materials raw, cutting down on painting and maintenance costs over time.
Meanwhile, thick walls and a 12-inch green roof help save on energy costs. And the homeowner saved money by building a network and website for Caldari’s architecture firm in exchange for the design plans. Now that’s some smart thinking.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: An ex–Army Reserves captain, his wife and their 2 kids
Location: Shohola, Pennsylvania
Design team: Bromley Caldari Architects; Lust Woodworks (builder)
Size: About 2,000 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Photography by Mikiko Kikuyama
The home sits on top of a hill overlooking the Delaware River. It’s a weekend retreat for the family, who lives in New York City. A metal-sided module converges with the main rectangular form, which is wrapped in hickory.
To save costs, Caldari stacked the “wet” areas (two bathrooms) and the home’s mechanical elements in the module. “If you’re spending $10,000 each to run plumbing for two bathrooms, if you stack them and only run one, then you save $10,000,” Caldari says.
This is where the homeowner likes to pace up and down, just thinking.
All around Caldari tried to incorporate materials that require little to no maintenance, such as plywood and concrete floors, the latter of which are heated. “That’s the kind of thing an architect should bring to the project,” Caldari says. “A sense of design ability to use materials in ways that enhance the project in aesthetics and value. Anybody can make something look good. But does it work? And what’s the reasoning behind it?”
He used 2-by-8 studs to give the ceiling height without needing structural beams. The studs also created deep pockets, which he packed with insulation to create a more energy-efficient structure. Metal bar joists, off-the-shelf at the standard length, hold 12 inches of soil and grass on the roof, creating more insulation that keeps the space warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
All around Caldari tried to incorporate materials that require little to no maintenance, such as plywood and concrete floors, the latter of which are heated. “That’s the kind of thing an architect should bring to the project,” Caldari says. “A sense of design ability to use materials in ways that enhance the project in aesthetics and value. Anybody can make something look good. But does it work? And what’s the reasoning behind it?”
He used 2-by-8 studs to give the ceiling height without needing structural beams. The studs also created deep pockets, which he packed with insulation to create a more energy-efficient structure. Metal bar joists, off-the-shelf at the standard length, hold 12 inches of soil and grass on the roof, creating more insulation that keeps the space warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Solid oak treads and lightweight steel form a staircase that leads to the urban-loft-like bedroom.
The shelving units are inexpensive MDF with a clear coating for protection. Standard bulbs in porcelain sockets (about $2.20 each from a local hardware store) illuminate the kitchen. “We tried to be crafty to save a few dollars,” Caldari says.
The shelving units are inexpensive MDF with a clear coating for protection. Standard bulbs in porcelain sockets (about $2.20 each from a local hardware store) illuminate the kitchen. “We tried to be crafty to save a few dollars,” Caldari says.
A terrace and balcony look down to the river.
Relatives donated most of the furniture. Someone from Caldari’s office donated the two vintage red three-legged chairs. Another balcony looks directly over the river.
A knotty pine partition blocks off a small guest room. The same material is used for accenting part of the ceiling.
“The form is really nice, and the proportion works really well, which makes a difference in perception,” Caldari says. “A simple form, unadorned, is straightforward and honest.”
A knotty pine partition blocks off a small guest room. The same material is used for accenting part of the ceiling.
“The form is really nice, and the proportion works really well, which makes a difference in perception,” Caldari says. “A simple form, unadorned, is straightforward and honest.”
Skylights brighten the loft bedroom. One door opens to a staircase leading to the green roof. Another leads to a balcony that looks to the woods.
The homeowners wanted an urban-style loft in a rural setting. The bedroom delivers this, with windows that capture pieces of the surrounding woods and river.
Sitting up in bed, the family gets a nice view of the river.
A large bathtub sits on engineered wood floors in the main bathroom.
The green roof acts as insulation for the home and an extra outdoor space for entertaining and relaxing. One of the daughters recently grew vegetables up here.
Caldari drew up every stud in the design of the house to waste as little material as possible.