Nestled in a hillside forest and overlooking a large meadow, the Field House in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, was built as an extension of the natural landscape. Designed by Vermont-based firm Birdseye, the 3,275-square-foot home comprises two distinct black gable volumes—a two-story main house and a one-level garage—which are linked together by an exterior walkway and supported by a full-height wall.

The homeowners were looking to build a second home in Rhode Island, where the husband grew up. They reached out to Birdseye after seeing the firm’s work online, and when the couple met principal architect Brian Mac in person, the group immediately connected over their shared architectural aesthetic.

The clients’ initial requirements for the Field House were somewhat loose: They knew that they needed their residence to be around 3,000 to 3,500 square feet. But after visiting the site several times, it also became clear that they wanted the home to fit within its forested setting—while also maintaining a sense of privacy.

“Conceptually, the home is designed as an extension to the landscape,” explains Mac. “[It] extends through, over, and in-between space, and visually integrates the composition to the site.”

The Field House’s exterior is finished in western red cedar with clear and black-tinted stains, which reinforce the layered aspects of the home. The striking entryway is defined by the cantilevered facade of one of the gables, which aligns flush with the landscape wall. The edge of this overhang creates a horizontal gap that intersects with the vertical space below it and leads directly to the front door. This, the architect reveals, is his favorite detail in the home. “The relationship the overhang has to the landscape wall is very provocative. [It creates] a dynamic shadow play throughout the day,” Mac explains.

The first floor opens to a wood-paneled living space with a kitchen, dining room, and lounging area that is grounded by a smooth plaster fireplace on the same axis as the front door. This level also includes a mudroom, powder room, and art studio, as well as a screened-in porch.

Upstairs, the floor plan features a primary sleeping suite with two additional bedrooms, a bathroom, a laundry space, and a media room. There is also a basement with storage.

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The Field House was designed with sustainability in mind: The structure is insulated with closed-cell spray foam, R-38 walls, and R-60 roofs; all of the windows are Energy Star–rated; and the interior is illuminated with LEDs (with dimmable switches). The home also utilizes a high-efficiency natural gas boiler with variable air volume delivery, and its fresh air exchanger includes a mechanical energy recovery ventilation system.

When it rains, excess water is collected on-site and dispersed into a dry swale that temporarily stores and filters the water for erosion control.

The surrounding plot of land was also designed as a continuum of the Field House’s architecture. Birdseye’s team placed plantings strategically throughout the lot to create scale and balance between the structure and the landscape.

“The [owners] very much wanted the house to speak with the land, and the finished project did not disappoint,” says Mac. “The design of the house created an architecture that embodies the blurred line between inside and outside.”

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Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Birdseye / @birdseyevt

Builder/General Contractor: Horrigan Builders / @horriganbuilders

Structural Engineering: Engineering Ventures / @engineeringventures

Civil Engineering: Jackson Surveying

Landscape Design: Birdseye / @birdseyevt

Interior Design: Allie Genoa

Cabinetry Installation: Dillon Knight Woodworking / @dillon_knight_woodworking

Photography: Michael Moran Photography