Designed with the idea of an observatory in mind, GLUCK+'s 'tower house' offers uninterrupted views over its surrounding wooded environment. functioning as a vacation home in upstate, new york, the structural core of the building is a four storey glass enclosed tower which features a bright yellow staircase connecting each of the levels to one another--the first three have each been designed as private suites, with a small bedroom and bath. the fourth floor is a cantilevered volume which hangs over the forest, like a canopy.
The kitchen and main living space are located on this uppermost tier with an outdoor roof terrace above; extending the interior into the fresh air, with views of the lake and mountains. the dwelling has been designed to be sustainable and energy efficient--taking advantage of its positioning within the natural setting--to benefit the overall well-being and comfort of the dwellers. considering it is only used as a part-time residence (a few weekends in the winter and most weekends in the summer) it has a minimal footprint and operating costs. the exterior features dark green, back-painted glass which camouflages the dwelling, by reflecting the surrounding trees and other greenery onto its surface.
The stacked north-facing bedrooms take advantage of the natural light and views with floor to ceiling window walls. to optimize the overall heating and cooling system of the home, a two part sustainable strategy has been employed reducing the energy exerted in the winter to keep it warm, while eliminating the need for air conditioning during the summer months. though the 'tower house' is heated in a conventional manner, the arrangement of the wet zones on top of one another forms a central insulated core which allows for much of the living quarters to be 'switched off' during the winter season.
When it is not in use, only 700 of the entire 2,545 square foot residence is actually heated. by reducing the building's function to just a concentrated section, decreases energy by 49%. in the summertime, it stands comfortably without the employment of air conditioning, where the benefits of implementing the stack effect are seen once again. south-facing glass on the stairwell create a solar chimney. as hot air rises, it is exhausted out of the top, thus drawing fresh air through the core from the cooler north side.