Cape Courtyard House

Farm Villa combines imagery of the New England farmhouse with that of the Neoclassical European villa. Columns vary according to a hierarchy of formality: plain square white columns for the entry porch, monumental paneled columns for the view-facing porch, and locally-milled timbers with metal connections for the outbuildings.

This house is the first Passive House in Vermont, the first modular Passive House in the United States, and the first Habitat for Humanity Passive House.

A tower serves as the entrance and links the main wing of the house to the guest quarters. The entry under the tower is like a breezeway with barn doors on each side and dark interior finishes of a tack room. The new house and barn face a courtyard incorporating the remains of old farm buildings.

Down a sweep of lawn and pasture, this big house looks like a collection of small houses. Greek Revival-inspired pavilions are connected by a Shingle Style link, uniting various regional traditions. The elliptical ceiling of the kitchen eating area looks like a shallow, tented canopy.