The Ex of IN House plays with space and light in Rhinebeck, New York. [Photo: Paul Warchol]
PROJECT PROFILE
LOCATION
Rhinebeck, New York
COMPLETION
July 2016
SQUARE FOOTAGE
918 square feet
TEAM
ARCHITECT
Steven Holl Architects
DESIGN ARCHITECT/
PROJECT ARCHITECT
Dimitra Tsachrelia
PROJECT TEAM
Yuliya Savelyeva, Ruoyu Wei, Michael Haddy
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Robert Silman Associates
CLIMATE ENGINEER
Transsolar
CONTRACTOR
JLP Home Improvement
The phenomena of the space of a room, the sunlight entering through a window, and the color and reflection of materials on a wall and floor all have integral relations.
The power of architecture is truly apparent when looking at its capability to manipulate space and material to create a place that exceeds the imagination. More than 300 people attended The Ex of IN House in Rhinebeck, New York opening on Saturday, July 2nd 2016 to witness how it resists the standard conventions of architecture and commercial practices to create a project that comes alive. Steven Holl Architects’ design not only challenges traditional residential building but investigates the potential for sustainability aligned with a physical location.
[Photo: Paul Warchol]
We got the details from Steven Holl’s Dimitra Tsachrelia, the architect on this beautiful project in forest.
gb&d: What is your design philosophy?
Tsachrelia; In each project, we seek new ways to integrate an organizing idea with the programmatic and functional essence of a building. Rather than a “style” carried to different sites and climates, or pursued regardless of different programs, we seek the unique character of a program and a site as the starting point for an architectural concept.
The concept acts as a hidden thread connecting disparate parts with exact intention. Meanings show through at this intersection of concept and experience. While anchoring a work in a specific site and circumstance, we seek a deeper beginning in the experience of time, space, light, and materials. The phenomena of the space of a room, the sunlight entering through a window, and the color and reflection of materials on a wall and floor all have integral relations.
Architectural transformations of natural material, such as glass, stone or wood, have thought- and sense-provoking qualities in the experience of a place. The phenomena of that which can be “sensed” in the material and detail of an environment is in a realm apart from that which is intellectually transmitted.
The house resists the standard conventions of architecture and commercial practices to create a space that comes to life, bringing the outside in. [Photo: Paul Warchol]
[Photo: Paul Warchol]
gb&d: What was most exciting to you about this project?
Tsachrelia; How quickly the project was realized. From pure research to actual physical construction, the building opened in less than nine months, which was an amazing inspiration in my long history of making architecture.
gb&d: What was this project’s biggest challenge?
Tsachrelia; The biggest challenge was the building department, the local building codes, and restrictions. For example, installation of a 1,000-gallon septic tank and large leaching field was required although the area of the house is just 918 square feet. However, it was all done and complete.
At just 918 square feet, the house in the forest is a sight to behold. [Photo: Paul Warchol]
The design of this house transforms natural materials like glass and wood to alter the experience of a place. [Photo: Paul Warchol]
The way the space receives sunlight and modulates it through the day is the architect’s favorite feature of this house. [Photo: Paul Warchol]
gb&d: Your favorite feature of the house?
Tsachrelia; The way space receives sunlight and modulates it through the day. The sun is a sphere in orbit and it’s light changes and turns in time across the spherical space of the house.
gb&d: What is one lesson you learned during the process?
Tsachrelia; Intuition is the strongest most powerful force for any creative person. It’s important to listen to other critics, but think by yourself, trust your intuition, and make the decisions.
Learn more about Steven Hill at www.stevenholl.com
