Moore House - Alfredo de Vido

Moore House, Connecticut, by Alfredo de Vido. From the architect's website:

The main goal of the owners and architect was to merge this house into its natural environment. The site was selected so that the land would be minimally disturbed. The house was to face south toward a pond developed by the owners and was to fit within the landscape in a manner that provided no exposure to the north. Passive solar design controls the flow of energy through the building by natural means, utilizing energy conservation principles. Some of the materials used were found on the site itself. Mature red oak trees on the property were selectively cut to provide posts and beams for the house. This was done long enough before ground breaking to ensure that the lumber was aged. Old fieldstone walls on the property provided material for facing the concrete walls. The main building materials are concrete sandblasted in some areas, and faced with stone in others) and oak posts and beams. An important design consideration was the proportion of the walls with the glass areas. Natural light is brought into the rear of the house via a long row of skylights and even on an overcast day, one does not feel "underground" in any room. The rich colorings of the wood, stone, and other materials further distance any feeling of subterranean space.