Project Goals

• Clear the existing dwelling and create a low-profile modern house tied to the lake panorama.
• Design all systems—heating, cooling, domestic power—to run entirely from solar generation and on-site storage.
• Provide an indoor–outdoor life: large entertaining zone, interior courtyard, new pool terrace, and screened porch.
• Apply Passive House detailing for airtightness, low energy demand, and healthy indoor air.
• Include generous service spaces: butler’s kitchen, media room, exercise room, EV charging station.

Design and Implementation

Layout / Structural Changes

• One-story plan organized around a planted courtyard; glass pockets away to merge living area with the lake-facing deck.
• Engineered roof trusses span the open entertaining space; a German wood-burning insert ties into ductwork as a backup heat source.
• Corner windows carve out the primary bathroom view; two secondary bedrooms line the courtyard; pool and terrace step gently toward the water.

Materials and Finishes

• Exterior: untreated cedar rainscreen over rigid rockwool insulation for high durability without spray foam.
• Envelope: smart Intello vapor barrier, taped seams, and triple-gasketed windows sourced for airtight performance.
• Interiors: polished concrete floors, walnut cabinetry in both kitchens, matte-black fixtures paired with natural plaster walls.

Key Elements

• Roof-mounted solar array feeding dual Tesla Powerwalls; critical loads automatically shift to battery during outages.
• Dual kitchens—main show kitchen and concealed prep space—support large gatherings.
• Media room wired for 4K projection; dedicated exercise studio with lake-view glazing.
• Existing pool overhauled and ringed by a stone terrace that links to the screened porch.

Challenges

• Steep bedrock required custom pier footings and careful routing of services.
• Local builder unfamiliar with Passive House methods; detailed site coaching ensured airtightness targets were met.
• Post-pandemic cost pressure led to value re-design: high-cost automated sliders were replaced by manual units, kitchen swapped to the opposite façade, and glazing package recut to fit the revised scheme.

Outcome

The house now runs quietly on solar power while giving the owners a seamless indoor–outdoor routine. Winter nights are warmed by the high-efficiency wood stove; summer cross-breezes move through the courtyard and lake-side openings. Energy bills stay minimal, and the building serves as a personal test-bed for resilient construction on exposed sites.