The path from the garage leads to the private patio and on to a universally accessible side entry.
The site design preserves as many existing trees as possible, including mature white oaks.
Windows are placed in relation to the path of the sun and to provide desired views.
A natural-gas-fueled Jøtul stove provides a focal point for the living room and an energy efficient secondary heat source for use on especially cold winter days.
Built-in benches in the dining room and main-floor living room provide additional seating to accommodate larger group gatherings.
A key biophilic design principle used throughout Nordic Light strategically combines fenestration and finishes to draw natural light deep inside and bounce it off multiple surfaces, including wood, which warms its hue.
Windows throughout the home provide views of nearby greenspace, the site’s native wildflowers, grasses and other indigenous plantings, and the surrounding neighborhood.
A polycarbonate half-wall on one side of the upstairs living room wraps down and around the stairway to serve as a railing.
The view over the half-wall on the second floor, which overlooks the staircase and dining room.
This window is sized and positioned so sunlight will enter the home from the west, bounce off the adjacent white wall, and brighten the stairwell and the open living area on the second floor.
The private upstairs living room feels spacious because of the adjacent outdoor room created by a roof deck.
Every detail of the home’s design is clean and contemporary.
The house is set into the existing grade to give it a sense of intimacy on an urban, corner lot. Windows in the main living area are perfectly positioned to reflect light off the snowpack in the winter.
In addition to replanting white oaks that couldn’t be preserved, the landscape design adds Aspen and a second oak species for more tree cover.
