Chia-Powered Abode: The Desai Residence Sets the Bar for Design Innovation!

The clients of The Ledge House requested us to design a new home that would pay homage to the history of the Connecticut Valley, incorporate an environmentally friendly material palette, and work with the challenging site on a large rock ledge. We removed an existing cabin that had been modified ineffectively by a previous owner; we were able to reuse the cabin’s foundation, thus saving money and reducing construction waste, and expand it to simplify the building's footprint while increasing the program. The new footprint moved the house closer to an existing boulder - a prehistoric “glacial erratic” deposited along the ledge hundreds of thousands of years ago when the glaciers formed the Appalachian Mountains. This boulder serves as a rugged companion to the house and a source of inspiration 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 utilizing balloon framing techniques - beams, walls, sheathing, and a precisely calculated nailing pattern - allows the structure to act as a unified diaphragm, eliminating the need for exposed cross-bracing. The interior vaulted ceilings are open volumes of space highlighted by smooth planar surfaces.

The living room, dining room and kitchen form the nucleus of a large breezeway through the house; this breezeway was strategically positioned to take advantage of the views of the valley, the uphill cross-ventilating breezes, and an existing boulder that serves as a complement to the house and the landscape. The exterior of the house is clad in Shou Sugi Ban siding, which provides a rot-resistant and bug-resistant finish that also accentuates 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; two guest bedrooms are on the other end. The nucleus living area between them allows the owners and their guests to come together in a lofted, open area that connects to a forested terrace and a valley terrace, allowing for a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living.

Architects: Desai Chia Architecture

Area: 2400 ft²

Year: 2019

Photographs: Paul Warchol

Manufacturers: AutoDesk, Duravit, Gaggenau, Kebony, Akari Light Sculptures by Isamu Noguchi, Arcadia Custom, Bulthaup, CEA Design, Cohen, Delta Millworks, Flos, Get Real Surfaces, Home Frefinements, Kallista, Liebherr, Madera-Trade, McNeel, Michael Anastassiades, Ortal, Pac-Clad, +4

Engineering: A.H. Howland Associates, David Kufferman

Landscape: AB Landscaping

Builder: Classic Renovations LLC