SQUARING THE CIRCLE | HUDSON VALLEY, NY
CLIENT - UNDISCLOSED
SQUARING THE CIRCLE IS A COMPACT RETREAT FOR A POET AND HIS EDITOR WIFE, SITUATED IN AN UNDISCLOSED SITE WITHIN NEW YORK’S HUDSON VALLEY. WITH A FOOTPRINT OF APPROXIMATELY 1,500 SQUARE FEET, THE RESIDENCE IS COMPOSED OF THREE INTERSECTING CIRCULAR VOLUMES, EACH CAPPED WITH 27.70° GABLED ROOFS. THESE VOLUMES ARE ROTATED ON 45° AXES RELATIVE TO A RECTILINEAR BASE GRID, THEIR PLACEMENT GOVERNED BY THE PROPORTIONAL CADENCE OF AN 8:5 RATIO. THIS FORMAL SYSTEM PRODUCES CALIBRATED, SEEMINGLY MISALIGNED SPACES THAT ARE IN COMPLETE ALIGNMENT WITH THE CREATION LOGIC OF THE 8:5 PROPORTION. THE RATIO EXTENDS BEYOND GEOMETRY INTO THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF THE CHROMATIC SCALE, A DEEPER FIELD OF RESONANCE THAT STRUCTURES BOTH SOUND AND SPACE. THE ARCHITECTURAL FRAMEWORK BECOMES MORE THAN FORMAL. IT IS A DIAGRAM OF ATTUNEMENT, WHERE PROPORTION MEDIATES BETWEEN LIVED PROGRAM AND METAPHYSICAL ALIGNMENT. WITHIN THIS RETREAT, THE 8:5 LOGIC CONNECTS MATERIAL FORM TO THE RHYTHM OF THE VERTICAL SELF, A THEME DEVELOPED IN THE DISSERTATION “THE SELF AS THE AXIOM OF ARCHITECTURE”. HERE, SPATIAL ORDER IS NOT SIMPLY CONSTRUCTED BUT RECEIVED, CALIBRATING DWELLING TO THE CONTINUUM OF ALIGNMENT, COHERENCE, AND RESONANCE.
THE PROJECT IS IMAGINED AS A DWELLING THAT MIRRORS THE COUPLE’S SHARED LIFE OF WORDS, THE POET’S SEARCH FOR RHYTHM AND CADENCE AND THE EDITOR’S PRECISION AND CLARITY. INTERIOR PROGRAMS ARE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS A POLYCENTRIC PLAN. ONE VOLUME CONTAINS INTERWOVEN LIVING AND SLEEPING QUARTERS, WHILE THE OTHER TWO HOST SHARED FUNCTIONS INCLUDING CIRCULATION, KITCHEN, AND STORAGE. THE OVERLAPPING CIRCLES FORM SUBTLE THRESHOLDS, ALLOWING EACH SPACE TO RETAIN IDENTITY WHILE REMAINING VISUALLY AND SPATIALLY CONNECTED, MUCH LIKE THE BALANCE BETWEEN VOICE AND REFINEMENT IN THE COUPLE’S CRAFT.
STRUCTURALLY, THE CONTRAST IS ARTICULATED THROUGH RADIAL WALL ARRANGEMENTS INTERSECTED BY ORTHOGONAL ROOF FRAMING. CURVED PARTITIONS ANCHOR THE PLAN, WHILE RECTILINEAR BEAMS SPAN OVERHEAD, LENDING ORDER AND CONTRAST. THE EXTERIOR ENVELOPE IS CLAD IN VERTICAL LARCH RAINSCREEN AND A STANDING SEAM METAL ROOF, REINFORCING THE DIAGRAMMATIC PURITY OF THE MASSING. SQUARE APERTURES ARE RECESSED INTO THE CURVED FAÇADES, THICKENING THE ENVELOPE AND INTRODUCING MOMENTS OF GEOMETRIC TENSION.
THE 8:5 RATIO, APPLIED ACROSS BOTH GEOMETRY AND PROGRAM, ACTS AS THE PROJECT’S COMPOSITIONAL LAW, HARMONIZING CIRCULATION AND THRESHOLDS WITH THE OVERARCHING FORMAL LOGIC. AS A STUDY IN PROPORTION, PRECISION, AND RESONANCE, THE HOUSE EMBODIES THE BALANCE BETWEEN REPETITION AND DEVIATION, UNITY AND DISPLACEMENT. IT IS A RETREAT THAT REINTERPRETS DOMESTIC TYPOLOGY AS A SPACE FOR REFLECTION, DIALOGUE, AND CREATIVE DISCIPLINE, MINIMAL, QUIET, AND QUIETLY RADICAL.
Role - Architectural Designer/ FURNITURE DESIGNER
residential PROJECT | 2023
TECHNICAL SYSTEMS + CONSTRUCTION
This section drawing illustrates a timber-frame construction unified with a reinforced concrete foundation and a Kingspan TEK structural insulated panel (SIP) envelope. The roof employs Prelaq Nova PLX standing seam metal cladding, mounted over 1 x 2 counter battens creating a ventilated cavity. Beneath, 3 1/2 inch Kingspan TEK roof panels combine structure and insulation, sealed by a Solitex M Plus breathable membrane acting as a vapor-permeable underlay. An acoustic-grade batt insulation layer mitigates airborne and impact transmission, while 5 5/8 inch TEK roof panels complete the primary insulated roof structure. Rainwater is directed through a concealed aluminum eaves carrier and gutter system, maintaining a continuous roof edge with hidden drainage discharge.
The wall system transitions seamlessly from the insulated roof plane into a 5 5/8 inch Kingspan TEK wall panel assembly. Externally, the wall is finished with Prelaq Nova PLX standing seam vertical metal cladding fixed to ventilated timber battens over a continuous weather barrier. Internally, layers include a 1/2 inch plasterboard with 1/8 inch skim coat over 2 3/8 inch Thermafleece insulation for natural wool thermal buffering. 2 x 4 timber battens and 1 x 2 service battens form cavities for electrical and plumbing distribution, sealed by a breather membrane ensuring airtight continuity. Openings feature double glazed argon filled units with CPC wrapped lead sills for watertight flashing and detailing. External joints are finished with 9/4 x 1 7/8 inch aluminum cover strips, maintaining material precision and weather resilience.
The foundation system integrates a timber ledger plate anchoring wall and joist loads into the reinforced concrete footing. Rigid insulation lines the foundation wall to prevent thermal bridging, while 8 inch and 12 inch suspended concrete slabs form a thermally massive base distributing structural loads evenly. Below grade, the assembly comprises a compacted hardcore gravel bed over a 4 inch sand bedding layer and 4 inch compacted Type 1 aggregate subbase, ensuring drainage stability. The waterproofing system includes a two layer Sider Proof FF PR finish protecting against groundwater ingress, underlaid by compacted soil and perimeter drainage channels.
