Cornwall, Connecticut, USA
New York-based Desai Chia architects were appointed to build a private residence that would resonate with the history of the Connecticut Valley, include a material palette that is environmentally friendly, and work with the challenging site on a large rock ledge.
The Ledge House project, as it is called has been awarded a 2021 American Award for Architecture from The Chicago Athenaeum and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
At first, the architects removed an existing cabin that had been expanded in unsuccessful ways over time and reused the cabin’s foundation, saving money and reducing construction waste as well as minimizing site disturbance and impact on the landscape.
The new footprint moved the house closer to an existing, prehistoric “glacial erratic” boulder that was deposited along the ledge when the glaciers formed the Appalachian Mountains.
It is a rugged companion to the house and acts as a muse for the uphill forest views.
The form of the house was inspired by indigenous barns of the area as well as the nearby, historic West Cornwall Covered Bridge.
A clever structural system utilized bespoke framing techniques — the beams, walls, sheathing, and a carefully calibrated nailing pattern allows the structure to perform as a unified diaphragm, eliminating the need for exposed cross bracing.
The interior vaulted ceilings are open volumes of space accentuated by clean planar surfaces.
The living room, dining room, and kitchen form the nucleus of a large breezeway through the house; the breezeway was strategically positioned to take advantage of the views to the valley, the uphill cross-ventilating breezes, and an existing boulder that becomes a rugged companion to the house and the views of the landscape.
The exterior of the house is clad in Shou Sugi Ban siding which offers a rot-resistant and bug-resistant finish that also articulates the iconic form of the building.
The interior finishes are light and airy.
A master bedroom suite is located on one end of the house; 2 guest bedrooms are on the other end.
The nucleus living area between them allows the owners and their guests to merge & socialize together in a lofted, open area that connects across the ledge to a forested terrace and a valley terrace: indoor and outdoor living flow seamlessly through.
Project: The Ledge House
Architects: Desai Chia Architecture
Client: Private
Contractor: Classic Renovations LLC.
Landscape Architects: AB Landscaping
Civil Consultant:Arthur H. Howland & Associates, P.C.
Structural Consultant: David Kufferman, P.E.
Photographers: Paul Warchol
