La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects

La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Exterior Photography
© - GlenGery

La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Exterior Photography, Windows, GardenLa Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Exterior Photography, Waterfront, Forest, GardenLa Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Interior Photography, Living Room, Table, Sofa, Windows, ChairLa Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Exterior PhotographyLa Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - More Images+ 25

Princeton, United States
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La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Exterior Photography
© Andrew Zientek

Text description provided by the architects. Nestled within a forest of large oaks on the shore of Carnegie Lake, the house sits like a monolith, split down the center allowing the landscape to run through its core. It serves as a permanent home for a couple as well as a family retreat for their children.

La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Exterior Photography
© - GlenGery
La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Exterior Photography
© - GlenGery

Living in connection with the landscape; "La Clairière" as the house is named (French for "the glade") references the central gathering space, the center of the home, and of the family.  With large window walls at each end, this light-filled "void" connects back to the landscape on both sides, capturing the sunrise and sunset within the same space. 

La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Exterior Photography
© - GlenGery
La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Exterior Photography, Waterfront, Forest, Garden
© Andrew Zientek
La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Exterior Photography
© Andrew Zientek

The materials from the interior - reclaimed wood walls and heated limestone floors - continue outdoors, lengthening the space and culminating with the view of the lake.  Within this central space are the kitchen, dining, and living rooms above which float a mezzanine offering elevated views of the lake.

La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Interior Photography, Table
© - GlenGery
La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Interior Photography, Living Room, Table, Sofa, Windows, Chair
© Tom Grimes
La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Interior Photography, Table, Chair
© Tom Grimes

The two dark brick volumes on either side are sunken into a deep landscape and emerge out of the ground: these host all the private spaces and were designed to provide peaceful & protected rooms that contrast the center.  Within these brick volumes, deeply recessed openings of windows and balconies provide uniformity from the exterior while capturing a unique view specific to each interior space.

La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Image 26 of 30
Floor Plan
La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Image 29 of 30
Section

Sustainability; The home provides 88% of its energy needs on-site.  The carefully concealed array of solar panels on the roof offsets the majority of the energy usage in the house. The careful siting of the house shelters the space from the southern sun and provides diffuse natural light all day, minimizing the need for artificial lighting. All lighting in the house is LED and the garage hosts two electric car chargers to take the solar power on the road.

La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Interior Photography, Windows, Facade, Chair
© Tom Grimes

Materials; The wood walls in the central space are old-growth teak, re-used from building demolition sites in Burma requiring no new trees to be cut.  The thick insulated brick walls and insulated dual-paned windows provide an airtight building envelope reducing the need for heating and air-conditioning.  With radiant heated floors downstairs and carefully zoned portions of the house, the energy-efficient systems can stay off for large parts of the year.

La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Interior Photography, Dining room, Table, Windows, Chair
© Tom Grimes

The landscape, designed in collaboration with A\Z Landscape Architecture, is a low-maintenance field that maximizes impermeable surfaces to reduce stormwater runoff and maximize infiltration while providing new habitats for birds & bees.

La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects - Interior Photography, Windows, Chair, Table
© Matt White

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Cite: "La Clairiere Residence / Studio PHH Architects" 08 Jul 2022. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/985001/la-clairiere-residence-studio-phh-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

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