Ruhl Walker Architects

Having worked on several cool projects in Hawai‘i over the last few years, our eyes have really been opened to architectural possibilities that rarely exist in New England. For example, we collaborated with Rhoady Lee Architecture and Design on the Big Island on a new house near the Four Seasons at Hualalai that had custom motorized rolling walls of glass and teak (detailed by our own Sandra Baron and Lilly Smith!) that disappear into lava rock walls, opening virtually every room in the house to trellised lanais, an edge-less pool, lushly landscaped courtyards, and sweet tropical breezes. So, how can we introduce these exotic possibilities to the custom houses we design in New England?

One answer is through bi-folding glass walls from companies like Nanawall, and we’ve designed several recent houses that utilize their exceptional technology. Our clients wanted to have large screened porches so they could live outdoors spring, summer and fall without the ubiquitous New England mosquitoes and flies, and wondered how they might join those porches to the rest of the house. Voila, we proposed Nanawall doors and something that has traditionally been a barrier in older New England houses becomes an opportunity. Added benefit: makes a great party house even better!

We are thrilled to be able to update you all on the progress being made at our modern custom prefab house in Lincoln, MA. All of the double height windows are installed at the two-storey-high living room and stair hall, eight 6×6 steel columns have been carefully inserted around the double height spaces, the Nanawall doors are installed between the dining room and screened porch, the roof and skylights are complete and water tight, and there has been a ton of plumbing, electrical, HVAC (geothermal), and listening room work performed inside. Exterior siding will start being installed this week, so everyone is hoping for continued un-seasonably-warm weather, and looking forward to the green zip-system sheathing to be covered in cedar! FOMA (Friends of Modern Architecture in Lincoln) should be pleased that the house is suitably modern, as they required during permitting; how wonderful (and unusual!) for a town to take a stand against cookie-cutter-McMansions! Check out the photos below, and let us know what you think!

It’s been awhile since we posted an update for our Westport project, the modern house Ruhl Walker Architects designed to float above its Westport River site, and that we introduced back in January and April.  Rick and Susan have moved in and were even able to enjoy the summer while some finish work and landscaping continued. We directly benefited from some of this fun, not only because Rick and Susan were in such good spirits and kept telling us how much they loved their new house, but also because we were treated to an amazing feast with our design partners from Reed Hilderbrand and Oblio Design on August 6^th. Out of a great project experience have grown some wonderful friendships!

A few weeks after the celebration, Will Ruhl returned to discuss the “punch list”, which was unusually short given the excellent craftsmanship provided by the general contractor, Gilman, Guidelli, Bellow, & Co. It was actually more of a list of potential design modifications, minor tweaks to fine tune a few of the built details. Some fun work for Rick to ponder this fall!

Reed Hilderbrand’s landscape design is looking great already, and thanks to a violent rainstorm we witnessed first hand the wonderfully interactive water gathering rock gardens that coordinate perfectly with the house’s scuppers and waterfall element.

We are excited about some publication possibilities that have already come our way; publish or die… Keep tuned in for updates on that!

The east side of the house, viewed from a pea stone parking court.	The front door is on the side of a covered front porch, at the top of a 60” wide mahogany ramp. To the left is a grilling porch, protected from the prevailing breezes by the screened porch beyond.
The windows on the east façade are sized for selected views and to enhance cross ventilation.	The two architectural bars of the house are visible through the woods on the north side of the house. In the foreground on the right is an outdoor shower cube with slatted cedar siding that matches the base of the house.
The house appears to float above its site along the Westport River.	The main living spaces are in the upper, all glass bar of the house, with guest rooms and storage built within existing basement spaces below.
As you approach the house from the river, you become aware that the master bedroom windows on the far left are in a different plane from the living room windows. Between the two is a walnut clad volume that houses a fireplace and closets; this walnut cladding continues inside in both the living room and master bedroom.	60” wide custom galvanized steel and mahogany stairs lead up to an upper deck, adjacent to a large screened porch. Below the screened porch is an open-air storage room protected from the elements by a wall of cedar slats held apart to allow ventilation.
The main living and dining space, along with the screened porch and the master suite, has 10’ ceiling heights, and a wall of glass facing the river. At the end of the space is a wall of bleached walnut paneling around a fireplace clad in black slate. A TV is concealed to the left of the fireplace behind flush walnut paneling.	The dining area is completely open to the kitchen, and finishes in the kitchen match those of the living space. Flooring throughout is bleached Ash.
Kitchen cabinets are bleached walnut. At the right is a floor to ceiling door leading to the grilling deck.	At the end of the compact hallway separating the master suite and home office is a wall of glass with views into the woods and of the roof scupper / waterfall.
Behind the living area is an open stair leading down to a lower level family room. Beyond is a small sitting area with a window that brings in ample morning light.	The west wall of the living / dining space is virtually all glass, with views of the Westport River and glorious sunsets.
One wall of the master bedroom is paneled with walnut, and conceals closets and cabinetry; this material is aligned with the walnut volume visible on the west façade of the house. All built-ins, as well as the bed and side tables are custom designed by Oblio Design.	A closer view of the wall of storage in the master bedroom.
The stair railings inside match the exterior steel railing details, with stainless steel guards and walnut hand rail. The light is aniline dyed wood veneer.	Remember where this all started?...

We are thrilled that our Westport clients are enjoying living in their new river front house, after recently having received their Certificate of Occupancy from the town! There is still an extensive punch list to complete, but after such a long, snowy winter and an unusually rainy spring, that first coffee on the new deck was extra special…

We do our best to address our clients’ expectations throughout the design and construction process; but because every client is so unique, each project has its own unique and ever-changing set of expectations.  In most cases the design process is quite fun, perhaps because the focus is on hopes and dreams.  But most of our clients would not describe the construction process as fun… Maintaining some perspective is the goal, remembering that there is an end to the often stressful process, and trying to find some humor in the occasionally ridiculous process of residential construction. In this case, the focus was on that mid-summer coffee on the deck, watching the river flow by…

Exterior view, river side; the upper level has a master bedroom on the left, living / dining room in the middle, and screened porch on the right, and the lower level has two additional bedrooms, family room, bathroom, and abundant storage.	Close-up of steel stair leading down to the river from the raised deck and screened porch.
Living room view facing the screened porch, accessible through the Nana Wall door system; interior floors are bleached Ash and porch and deck flooring is sustainably harvested mahogany.	The new kitchen with bleached walnut cabinetry and Ash floors.
Interior stairs connecting renovated lower level and new upper level; stairs are bleached ash and lower level floors are stained concrete.	Screened porch view facing into main living / dining space; eventually the far wall will have bleached walnut and honed black slate paneling.
View of Westport River from screened porch; stainless steel railings have been installed since this photo was taken.	The first coffee and NY Times on the new deck…

This house started as a substantial renovation of an existing 50′s vintage modern house in Lincoln, MA.  Because the original program included a large laundry list of renovations to the existing house systems, once we began working with general contractors on a budget for the renovation project it became clear that the cost of renovating was going to be comparable to the cost of building a new house.  In the interest of making as energy efficient a house as possible, maximizing long term value for the owners, and minimizing short term disruption to the owners, the decision was made to pursue a new house on the existing foundation, with the new house being built by a modular prefabricator for substantial time and cost savings. Both of the owners write software and manage companies from home, so minimizing disruption is critically important; pursuing modular construction will help minimize the time the owners will have to be out of their house during construction.  The basement level will be reconfigured to accommodate a new, expanded garage, an exercise room, mudroom, wood working shop, bathroom, and mechancial and storage rooms.  The main level will have a large, open living / dining room, screened porch with fireplace, enlarged kitchen with pantry, master suite, guest bedroom, and south-facing courtyard / roof deck.  On an upper level will be an A/V room, a large home office, and a bathroom. During the Permitting process, a group called Friends of Modern Architecture in Lincoln was consulted by the Town, to make sure that the modern house that was being partially demolished would be replaced with a suitably contemporary replacement, and we of course passed the test.  The house will be prefabricated by Haven Homes and site fabricated by Sea Dar Construction of Boston.  Landscape design will be by Matthew Cunningham. The house is currently in design, with shop drawings being prepared by Haven Homes, and custom interior and exterior detailing by Ruhl Walker Architects. Construction is expected to be completed by October.

Digital model image of the new house, built on the existing foundation.	Digital model image of east elevation with zen garden.
Building section showing steel stair, perforated stair wall, and living room fireplace.	Wall at stair.
Landscape plan by Matthew Cunningham.	Inspiration for landscape elements.
The existing home.

Currently under construction on the banks of the Westport River, in Westport, MA, is a house we designed for a general contractor and his wife. Reed / Hildebrand is landscape architect and interior design will be by Diane Cramphin of Oblio Design.

The couple bought a simple 1980′s “saltbox” a few years ago, with the dream of knocking the house down and starting over with a fresh, modern design. One of the homeowners had grown up in a modern house in Virginia, and wanted to have a low-slung house that opened up to its beautiful, river-side setting. They called for removing the existing three story house and replacing it with a single story house that would include a large, open living / dining / cooking space that would open through a Nana Wall door to a large living / dining screened porch. Also on the main floor will be a master suite and an office that could double as a guest bedroom. Because the house is built on a hill, the main floor will be built on top of the existing foundation, and the lower level will include two guest bedrooms and a family room, as well as storage below the screened porch.

The design parti is two bars shifting past each other, with the space between the two bars being the main circulation zone. The bar on the river side will be taller and longer than the inland bar, and is defined by a ten foot high by eighty-four foot long wall of glass and screens, defined within a continuous frame; the river bar “floats” above the base, which is reconfigured as a landscape feature covered with vines. The inland bar is sheathed in shingles with deeply inset windows asymmetrically organized based on practical needs for light and cross ventilation. Construction is expected to be completed in June, 2011, but we’ll keep you posted on progress in this blog.

The new house floats above its river side site.	Digital model image.
Steel structure is in place, and framing is on-going.	On the north end of the house, the master bedroom cantilevers six feet beyond two concrete pilotis.
The two bars are evident at the north end of the house; between them is the main circulation spine.	The inland bar floats above its concrete base.
The river will be visible through the new screened porch.	The riverside bar floats above a base that will accommodate off-season storage, and that will be sheathed with cedar slats held apart for ventilation.
Upon entering the main living space, the river appears.	The main living space will be sixty feel long, separated by an operable wall, with fireplaces at both ends; half of the space will be screened.
View from master bedroom.	Rick's office will also have river views.
Though there was no real attachment to the existing house, demolition is still almost always emotionally traumatic.

Having recently completed construction of this renovation and addition in Duxbury, we are currently working with the owners on the last phases of furnishings and interior design.

The owners’ previous home − a commanding ship captain’s house built in 1851 − was just around the corner, and they had grown tired of maintaining its 17 rooms and extensively landscaped grounds, including a five−acre arboretum designed in 1939 by Woodward Manning. The couple and their twin sons wanted to substantially downsize, and to create a more light−filled, contemporary house in keeping with their modern lifestyle and passion for cooking. When a fixer−upper essentially in their backyard came on the market, they leapt at the chance to create their dream house.

The house they purchased – an 1850s “Cape” – had not aged well, and several ill−conceived 1960’s vintage additions as well as a crumbling, attached barn, had to be removed. This left the original small house to be restored to its former glory and transformed into bedrooms and baths for the boys in the original living and dining rooms, a library with wide−plank pine floorboards and wainscoting salvaged from the original barn, and two guest rooms and a bath upstairs. We then designed a fresh addition to the rear, intended to be perceived as an attached, modern barn from the street.  It’s virtually all glass towards the south, away from the neighbors’ prying eyes. Within the addition are an open, two−story−high living / dining / kitchen, a screened porch, a sitting room that could serve as a bedroom in the future, a master suite above, and a garage and billiards room below. The main living space is awash in sunlight virtually all day long, modulated with a distinctive vocabulary of interior and exterior architectural slats. On the inside, the slats form an architectural screen made of horizontal cherry wood louvers, wrapping the fireplace surround in the living room, a stair wall behind, a balcony railing above, and a partial height screen wall in the sleeping area at the top. The shed roof of the “barn” addition is curved on the inside in order to enhance the diffusion of light both day and night, and also conceals ductwork.

Off of the screened porch is a new landscaped courtyard with swimming pool, walled off from the street and defined to the side by a Ruhl Walker designed pool house, and open towards the new tennis court in the backyard. The wife, now relieved of her previous maintenance regimen, including her dump truck and commercial mowers, is especially enjoying this new, low−maintenance landscaping, and the time she now has to concentrate on her family, her catering business and creating edible wonders in her light−filled kitchen.

Digital model image showing "barn" addition at left and original house in upper right.	Digital model views of interior slatted enclosureside view of house with original Cape at right, new barn addition at left, and master bath tower in the middle.
Southern end of barn addition with cantilevered breakfast room.	View of barn addition with shed roof and continuous clerestorey windows that bring southern daylight deep into the house in winter original house, from the street, with additions beyond.
The entry hall doubles as dining space, with new living room up 3 steps.	After leaving the limestone clad foyer and stepping up the 3 steps, you enter the double height living space, awash with sunlight and wrapped on 3 sides by the cherry wood slatted enclosure the cherry wood slatted enclosure wraps around the master bedroom loft; below is the catering kitchen and pantry by Arclinea.
The glass walled breakfast room cantilevers out 6' from the house.	Behind the slatted enclosure of the new living room is an open riser stair leading up to the master suite, and down to the billiards room and garage.
A sitting room on the main floor provides some quiet space, and is designed so that some day it could become an accessible bedroom.	Slatted walls of the guest bath follow the exterior detailing.