Sustainable building is not a modern concept. Ancient cultures knew a thing or two about conserving resources and engineering a home to work in harmony with its environment. Long before the advent of HVAC and 21st-century building systems, the dwellings of our ancestors were harnessing the power of sun, wind, earth, and water to create living spaces that were both comfortable and energy efficient.
Of course, post-industrial houses do have their benefits (indoor plumbing, beer fridges, hi-def surround sound), so the task becomes figuring out how to integrate antiquity’s greatest green lessons into designs that meet the lifestyle demands of today. That is what Tradewinds, our show home for the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla., set out to do.
Credit: Photos by James F. Wilson
Blending timeless natural principles with the latest building products and technologies was no small feat—and for that sizable challenge we called in the experts at Geoffrey Mouen Architects, Charles Clayton Construction, and Brown & Deddens Design Studio. They embarked on an ambitious archeological dig through time, disassembling centuries-old building forms and traditions into a kit of parts, and then putting them back together in a high-performance home for the ages.
Allowing form to follow function, the residence that now stands at 5006 Benwick Alley is unlike any other in the acclaimed TND of Baldwin Park. With its pavilions, pediments, and central courtyard, it evokes the architectural geometry of ancient Greece and Rome. Deep overhangs and oversized shutters are decidedly Caribbean in their battened response to hot sun and torrential rain. The home’s concrete and stucco shell gives credence to the building blocks Addison Mizner first introduced to South Florida in the 1920s as an alternative to stick-built framing. And with its cathedral ceilings and vertical window arrays, some might even call this house contemporary gothic.
For all its references, though, it defies vernacular classification. Like ships once propelled by trade winds to distant shores to bring back exotic flavors, this home is a vessel full of experimental ideas, hybrid aesthetics, and pragmatic reinterpretations of age-old practices. Its style is transcendent, and its hatch is full. Check it out.
Passive Approach
With its zinc alloy roof, clean lines, and crisp joinery, Tradewinds doesn't appear classical in a Monticello or Mt. Vernon sort of way. But, as the Roman philosopher Hippolytus observed centuries ago, the unapparent connection is sometimes more powerful than the apparent one.
Currently in the process of applying for Florida Green Building Coalition certification, this site-sensitive abode bears a kinship to centuries-old dwellings in that it is, first and foremost, a tailored response to its climate and geography. The home's orientation toward an adjacent lakeallows it to capture prevailing wind patterns off the water to power a passive ventilation system that reduces the need for standard air conditioning. High ceilings and operable clerestory windows allow heat to vent naturally, with lake-side breezes ensuring constant air circulation.
The footprint of this house is also fundamentally conducive to cross-ventilation, thanks to narrow building masses that can be opened up on two sides. "Instead of a fat, thick house, each wing is less than 25 feet wide," explains architect Geoff rey Mouen. Additional passive cooling elements include deep overhangs, porches, and a refl ective metal roof, all of which help to minimize solar gain.
The "big green idea is you can turn this house off," says Mouen, who has designed other homes and buildings in Baldwin Park, but none quite like this. "Some groups advocate a tighter, closed-up envelope, which makes sense in climates where the temperature diff erential between inside and outside is huge. But in Florida, it's beautiful eight months out of the year so it makes sense to let the house breathe. Secondarily, fresh air is constantly circulating through, so air quality is less of an issue."
For times when air conditioning is necessary, Tradewinds' HVAC system by Trane is centralized for maximum effi ciency, with ducts radiating out from the garage to either wing of the house. "This central position allows the lines to be shorter, which means the system isn't pushing air through long runs of ducting," says Charlie Clayton, president of Charles Clayton Construction. Foam insulation and a Honeywell dehumidifier (which was custom engineered with Trane building scientists) in the roof structure keep the mechanical system cool, so it isn't working harder than it needs to.
"You can't put the pressure of a passive ventilation system on a typical dehumidifi er unit, so we needed a custom solution," Clayton explains. "We worked with Trane to adjust the dynamics to account for additional humidity brought in by outside air. You can use passive ventilation or youcan run it as a conventional house. The dehumidifier is set up to work under both scenarios."
With its honest roof forms and narrow limbs, the home's transitional architecture is truly an outgrowth of its high-performance ethic. "We knew we weren't going to design another Mediterranean or colonial house because the fi rst order of business here was not about style," says Mouen. "The challenge was to respond fi rst to cultural, climatic, and energy issues, allowing stylisticconsiderations to flow from that."
"You can't put the pressure of a passive ventilation system on a typical dehumidifier unit, so we needed a custom solution," Clayton explains. "We worked with Trane to adjust the dynamics to account for additional humidity brought in by outside air. You can use passive ventilation or youcan run it as a conventional house. The dehumidifier is set up to work under both scenarios."With its honest roof forms and narrow limbs, the home's transitional architecture is truly an outgrowth of its high-performance ethic. "We knew we weren't going to design another Mediterranean or colonial house because the first order of business here was not about style," says Mouen. "The challenge was to respond first to cultural, climatic, and energy issues, allowing stylisticconsiderations to flow from that."
Inside Out
Outdoor living is a Floridian perquisite that Tradewinds embraces literally with a U-shaped plan that holds an al fresco sanctuary in its lap. Water is a central theme of this home. And the pool and spa in the middle of it all are flanked on either side by retractable doors that allow communal spaces to spill out onto the patio. Even when closed, these luxurious, 30-foot spans of glass make a dramatic statement, giving the house an elegant transparency.
But that’s just the beginning of the indoor-outdoor dialogue. Making a bold statement, this house challenges convention by repurposing various exterior features for indoor use. Elements that customarily adorn a home’s skin (windows and shutters, for example) make surprising appearances indoors, giving form to floating “cabana” structures that can be flexibly outfitted for any number of uses.
Natural, understated materials and finishes form a unifying thread in this otherwise unorthodox fabric. Cypress, a durable and sustainable hardwood harvested from Florida riverbeds, figures prominently in the outriggers, soffits, eaves, and chamfered columns on the exterior, then reappears inside as muscular ceiling beams, custom kitchen cabinetry, and built-in furniture. Dominican coral stone paves the front walkway, as well as the pool surround. “For fluidity and consistency, I didn’t want to introduce too many new materials out by the pool,” says landscape designer Corey Mills. “To make the spa backdrop, we used the same coral stone, but chiseled it by hand for texture and angled it so the waterfall wouldn’t be too noisy.”
Brazilian ipe, an exotic hardwood known for its lively grain, adds a sumptuous texture to the foyer steps (allowing for long, continuous planks) and to spiral stair treads leading up to the observation tower. It also takes a more functional turn, showing off its rot-resistant properties as pool decking. The wood slat pattern is easy on the eyes, and it channels rainwater into an underground French drainage system. “We used a rat slab with eight area drains underneath,” explains project manager George Gunter. “With the ipe, water can drip between the slats and the pattern is uninterrupted, whereas a concrete patio would have required metal drains, which become eyesores.”
Business Casual
Measuring 130 feet by 90 feet, the lot for this upscale home certainly could have coughed up space for a proper dining room, living room, library, butler pantry, and the like. But the design team took a pass on formality, instead focusing on broad communal spaces that are more down-to-earth.
Hence, the west wing is an open progression of cooking, eating, and lounging spaces, culminating in a gathering area with stunning lake views. The transition from kitchen/dining area to this all-purpose family space is delineated not by walls, arches, or columns, but by a simple rise in ceiling height and a perpendicular shift in the direction of the ceiling’s exposed beams. As a result, long sight lines are preserved from one end of the wing to the other—allowing even those chopping vegetables or stirring pots in the kitchen to savor the view—but it doesn’t have the cavernous effect of a beer hall.
The study overlooking the kitchen is similarly roomy, trading staid wood paneling and overstuffed leather furniture for a more relaxed vibe. The requisite built-in bookcases are there, but they are interspersed with broad picture windows for natural light. Two distinct zones (a salon-style area with couches and an ergonomic workstation built into the adjacent cabana) are separated not by walls, but rather a spiral staircase leading up to the observation tower. Built-in art niches and recharging stations are part of the package.
“Orlando has a thriving high-tech sector, so we imagined the buyer might be a tech executive who is into gadgets, computers, and automated systems,” says Mouen. “This is a space where he can play with his toys … and the observation tower that rises up from this spot might have a weather station in it or a telescope. We thought the wife might be a philanthropist or botanist, and figured they both do a lot of traveling, collecting artifacts from around the world.” Both sometimes work from home, he adds.
No luxury home is complete without the ultimate fun zone, and this one goes all out with a killer theater room cleverly tucked into a windowless space above the garage. Perfect for slumber parties, rainy day matinees, or Monday Night Football, this hideaway features a small satellite kitchen in the adjacent hall, so fans don’t have to miss a play or an Oscar-winning kiss while stepping out to grab a snack.
Escape Artistry
Tradewinds is an open housethat puts much of life on display. And yet there are ample places to escape for alone time thanks to clever massing and split-leveling. A sunken oasis in the home’s northeast corner, for example, filters morning light through custom carved window panels, creating a peaceful repose. This spot has no door, but a step down in floor grade signifies a transition from public space to quiet zone.
At first glance, the master suite seems conspicuously exposed to the outdoors with floor-to-ceiling picture windows (including operable transoms) framing a view of the lake. But privacy in this and other retreat spaces is ensured by the nature of the home’s overall lofty position. Raised masonry construction places the entire structure 4 1/2 feet above grade so that passersby are not peeping into windows head-on, but rather looking up, not catching a glimpse of anything but ceiling.
Landscaping also plays a pivotal role in the privacy game. Native trees and shrubs around the perimeter of the house soften its geometry and add another layer to the progression from neighborhood green space to private residence. A tranquil patio off the master bathroom is shielded from public view by a bank of tall clumping bamboo.
What makes the bold gestures and volume spaces of this eclectic home even more dramatic is that they are tempered with small interludes that weave a feeling of intimacy and discovery around every turn. Fixtures and finishes were painstakingly chosen to reflect an upscale maritime theme, in keeping with the Tradewinds concept, notes interior designer Kim Deddens. Built-in furniture, bench storage, and pocket doors throughout the house evoke the efficiency of a ship’s close quarters. Dead spaces that might otherwise go unnoticed (and unused) are brought to life with precious cargo, from decorative tile work to porthole-style cabinet doors.
Behind the Scenes
In the end, how a house lives is as much about little efficiencies as it is about the big picture. And here’s where Tradewinds changes its tack and takes a marked departure from antiquity. Tankless water heaters by Rinnai significantly reduce the energy needed to produce hot water. Automated features courtesy of Advanced Audio Design, this year’s technology integrator, include an astronomical time clock that controls exterior lighting, similarly programmed interior lights that go off when not in use, and window coverings set to deploy in midday, thus minimizing heat gain. Dimmer modules (controllable via touchpad) make mood lighting a snap and reduce unnecessary electrical consumption.
Colonial or Victorian this home is not, but its fresh face can be savored for its honest architecture and efforts toward carbon reduction. Some risks are just worth taking. Perhaps Mark Twain said it best: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”