Perched in Sicily's Monte Cofano Nature Reserve, this one-bedroom home—which was once an agricultural storehouse—offers views of an unspoiled natural landscape, from the mountains to the sea. Original details, such as exposed beams and stone walls line the interiors, while a large, partially shaded patio extends the charm outside.
Local cabinetmaker Peter Pomerantz made the custom, white oak cabinetry and Flywheel Industrial Arts fabricated the steel hood. “It’s about lines and shadows; no hardware,” Herrmann says.
The stair is visible through the large picture window at the front of the house. The ceiling slats rest atop the huge steel beam that runs parallel to the staircase.
Flywheel Industrial Arts fabricated and installed the floating steel and oak stair based on Herrmann’s design which balances geometry with organic rhythms. If Herrmann noticed a repeated pattern when she glanced at it, she played with the spacing until her eye wasn’t drawn to any single spot. “We were excited by the combination of a massive, steel superstructure and a non-repeating baluster pattern,” says Benjamin Cheney, a partner at the Montpelier-based firm. Bocci pendant lights illuminate the stair evenly and look beautiful.
Herrmann and the building team from Red House collaborated on the hardscape and simple landscape gestures. “The owners didn’t want to worry about maintaining fussy gardens while they’re there,” Herrmann says. Flywheel Industrial Arts fabricated the powder-coated railings.
The living room occupies the middle volume and has a cathedral ceiling. “It’s the largest room in the house and has the best views,” the husband says. “It’s where we entertain and encourage the kids to be with family.” Sliders open to the concrete terrace where they gathers every night to watch the sunset. The landscape is by Australian-American photographer Brooke Holm.
A corner fireplace faced in Ann Sacks concrete tiles anchors the living room. “There are LED lights behind the peeled back tiles,” Herrmann says. “There is an apparent human touch; each one is a little different.”
The lower level, which has a polished concrete floor and comfy Blue Dot sectional, is where the kids run around, do craft projects, and watch television. A plain barn door separates this area from the guest suite. There are also sliders that spill out into the yard.
Board-formed concrete provides a pleasing but not overly decorative finish for the backside of the lower level. The living room volume and concrete terrace sit atop the garage.
By wedging the house into the hill, Herrmann was able to accommodate the owners’ desire to present a low-key face to the neighbors. Living room sliders open onto a concrete terrace that leads down to the backyard.
The living room, dining room, and kitchen are distinct spaces while still being very open. “It was fun to come up with a slightly different approach to an open living concept,” Herrmann says. The artwork on the left is by Sonnenzimmer. The abstract on the right is by Ludovic Philippon, a painter in the South of France.
“You’re drawn deep into the house and given clues where to go,” Herrmann says. “Natural light guides you through the house.”
To arrive at the front door, one must travel on an informal path of bluestone pavers, then turn 90-degrees to enter. “Discovery and mystery is part of the charm.” Herrmann says. The seven-foot cantilevered covering has an underside of hemlock slats that extends indoors.
Herrmann’s first inclination was to design the bunks without a partition between them, but the owners asked that each one be its own little pod complete with bookshelves and reading light. “The kids love the bunk room,” the husband says. “At home, the twins share a room and their baby brother is the odd man out. Here, for twelve weeks, he gets to be a part of it.”
The oversized, oak pivot door has a hefty feel. “It’s about the tactile qualities and the craft,” Herrmann says. Slate tile with a clef finish in a herringbone pattern connects the entryway to the outdoors. The abstract painting is by British Columbia-based artist Andrea Soos.
The architect and owners were in sync on every aspect of the design, including the desire for shou sugi ban siding. “I had been interested in shou sugi ban for a long time,” Herrmann says. “These Japanese cypress boards have been charred, wire-brushed, stained, and oiled. We did a lot of testing to come up with the right dark grey color; it changes in the light.”
Meeting stringent Passive House standards requires proper solar orientation, which is determined in Plant Prefab’s initial site visit and feasibility study.
The three-bed, 2.5-bath RPA LivingHome includes two floors with 2,316 square feet of living space.
Like the RPA LivingHome 1, the RPA LivingHome 2 features a pitched roof for optimal solar collection.
The interior of the RPA LivingHome 1 is centered on an open-plan living space.
Designed with young families in mind, the RPA LivingHome 1 is a single-story, four-bed, three-bath residence with a loft.
A pitched roof optimizes the RPA LivingHome 1 for solar panels.
Locally milled cypress siding, a naturally rot-resistant wood, will darken over time.
L'Abri reinterprets the legendary A-frame to create a secluded shelter just north of Ottawa, Canada.
Emma McAllan-Braun and her family of four live in a farmhouse-style tiny home on her parents’ property in British Columbia. Ample outdoors space is a boon when living tiny with young children, but with a compostable toilet, and limited areas to entertain, having family or friends over for gatherings is impossible. "It's a major downside," says Emma.
Flexform’s Outdoor Collection innovates without straying from core company values built and refined over decades of design and operation. “Our outdoor products...mirror a sort of distillation of elegance, comfort, and inconspicuous luxury,” says the Flexform Design Center, echoing values firmly ingrained in their indoor design philosophy.
Challenging the perception of outdoor spaces as marginal or periphery, Flexform conceptualized its first outdoor collection through the same design lens as its celebrated interior collection. A Monreale Outdoor table with solid iroko wood top is mixed with Asnago & Vender-designed Moka chairs and woven Dafne iroko chairs – an elegant dining setup that effortlessly appears to be just as at home in an outdoor setting as it would inside.
The Carlo Colombo-designed Alison armchair, an indoor Flexform classic, has been carefully adapted for outdoor use. Re-engineered for optimal performance and durability, the signature curved backrest is made from extruded aluminum with a durable and scratchproof epoxy powder-coated finish.
A comfortable place to relax after a swim, poolside chaise lounges from the Vulcano collection are shown alongside a Tindari Outdoor side table, also designed by Citterio.
The Antonio Citterio-designed Vulcano Sofa is among the new designs created specifically for the Outdoor Collection. The highly customizable seating system can be configured as a sofa or sectional (or even a daybed, armchair or chaise lounge) and can be grouped in countless combinations. The extruded polyurethane cord distinctively wraps the armrest, and is resistant to contact with water, salt, and chlorine.
A concrete cabana is tucked away in the backyard, complete with custom furniture and lighting—both designed by Karen. The metal light fixture was fabricated by local artist Eric Doran, who also designed other metalworks on the property.
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