Light plays a big part in the effect of every building on the people who use it, but the way this house handles light is especially important to its owners, one of whom has retinitis pigmentosa. RP causes a gradual narrowing of the visual field, explains architect Mark Simon. “Outside of that, unevenness in the light is bothersome.” Simon marshaled all of his skill in the manipulation of light, color, and geometry to make this house hospitable to its owner. And while it was completed more than a decade ago, it remains one of his favorites.
The house replaced an existing cottage on a previously developed 15-acre site with excellent views and a mature landscape. “The property had a number of guesthouses, so they didn't need a big house. On the other hand, it was a grand property.” Simon's response was a house of modest dimensions but with a lot of presence. Spread out along a rise, the building's twin wings hinge about a smaller entry volume. Two prominent chimneys “kind of pin the composition together,” says Simon. “The house is sort of a gatehouse to the property.”The exterior draws freely on Greek Revival forms, with a heavy frieze, standing-seam metal roofs, and flush cedar siding. But in plan the building is more closely related to mid-20th-century “binuclear” houses, which placed living and sleeping spaces in separate pavilions flanking a central entry. Here the scheme yields a surprisingly spacious interior that also serves the particular needs of its owner. “The simplicity makes it easy for him to find his way around,” says Simon.
Project Credits:
Builder: Picton Construction, Washington Depot, Conn.; Architect: Centerbrook Architects, Centerbrook, Conn.; Living space: 1,400 square feet; Site: 15 acres; Construction cost: Withheld; Photographer: Tim Hursley.
Resources:
Bathroom fixtures: Hewi; Dishwasher: KitchenAid; Hardware: Gainsborough; Insulation: Owens Corning; Lighting fixtures: Nessen Lamps; Paint: Devoe Paint; Refrigerator: Sub-Zero.