Five Star House

Five Star House is located on a bucolic tree-lined street that was once farmland. Set back from the road, the original existing dilapidated house was demolished to make way for the new modern home. The site, though lush and level, was challenging to build on with respect to the size and complexity of the client’s program and the new home’s context within an established neighborhood. Wetlands restrictions and tree ordinances in addition to constraints of lot width and setback requirements further added to the architectural issues that needed to be addressed.

In response to the site constraints, the Carol Kurth design team imagined an assemblage of articulated buildings that were also connected to one another architecturally. The different volumes express the functionality of the elements within. A unifying barn-style structure contains the main living spaces of the home, while adjacent structures contain the elements of a “five star hotel at home” lifestyle. These luxury amenities reflect the owners’ passion for wellness and include an indoor pool and spa area; an indoor basketball and sports court; an exercise area; a guest suite; and a separate stone building for additional garage space.

Natural materials such as indigenous fieldstone, barn siding, and cedar shakes, are incorporated in a manner to enhance the identity of each structure and furthers the concept of a “village of buildings” coming together as a whole. The home is linked with a two-story stone wall that is expressed on the interior and exterior to create an interplay between the inside and outside. The landscape echoes the concept and is created as an “exterior room” defined by trees and plantings.

In keeping with a feeling of health and tranquility, the home’s interior was designed with a serene minimalist modern sensibility throughout. The main foyer opens to a double-height gallery space with a modern, cantilevered fireplace. The interior/exterior stone wall serves as circulation spine that creates a relaxed flow throughout the public and private spaces.

The design team created modern interpretations of barn-like cupolas and stair elements that add a rustic illumination to the interiors. The “Gym” structure which is partially recessed underground, benefits from added lighting and air flow with clerestory windows. A retractable roof and a series of glass doors along with a flow of materials from interior to exterior adds to the feeling an indoor/outdoor environment at the pool area.