Clearing the Way

A central glass cube connects two brick wedges in this New Jersey lake home.

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Architect Pierre-Henri Hoppenot’s name for this lakeside residence in Princeton, New Jersey, La Clairiere, is a nod to the dwelling’s glass-enclosed central volume—the heart of the home. French for "the glade" or "the clearing," the name describes a natural juncture—light-filled, yet protected. "A glade is a stopping point in a forest," shares Hoppenot, "where you would want to pause and observe the light moving through the treetops surrounding you."

In this family home at the shore of Carnegie Lake, a glass cube slices through two monolithic brick volumes, creating a light-filled void—not unlike the forest clearing—where loved ones pause to gather and connect. Private spaces are clustered in the protected brick volumes, while the all-important public space is located in the glass-enclosed central space. "The split down the middle allows the users to feel like the landscape is moving through the house," says Hoppenot.

To execute the design vision for the central space, Hoppenot turned to Kolbe for large-format glazing solutions. "We selected Kolbe for their energy efficiency and the size of the window panes they could provide," he says. With scale and functionality top of mind, he pulled from Kolbe’s VistaLuxe WD LINE for the home’s fixed windows, casements, and swing door and from Kolbe’s Ultra Series for the expansive, five-panel Lift & Slide door.

Visual connection to nature is an undercurrent—while in the central space, one never loses sight of the landscape. Dual exposures offer glimpses of the sky, treetops, and water from different vantage points. "The user experience of being connected to nature is unmatched and fills a primal necessity that gives you a sense of belonging," says Hoppenot. "The large glass openings and skylights in the central space make you feel like you are living outside."