Adirondack Camp

Project Details

Project Description

This Adirondack Camp is an energy efficient and environmentally responsive modern design that acknowledges and reinterprets some defining characteristics of the classic 19th century “great camps” of this region. (1) The wooded 6.5-acre waterfront site was selected to enable the south-facing windows to be oriented toward the views of water and the highest peaks of the Adirondacks. This optimizes the benefits of passive solar heating and natural ventilation cooling, while providing abundant daylight to the living spaces. The main building was placed behind a scrim of trees, and back from the water’s edge, providing a subtle expression as seen by passing boats. • Classic “great camps” were typically constructed of locally available pine, which required large beams and columns to support the significant snow loads. This modern camp uses laminated beams and columns manufactured from small-caliber regional trees, with custom steel connectors, permitting the structure to be both lighter and stronger. • Many “great camps” have a main living space that is partly surrounded by an upper level balcony or loft; limitations in early window technology restricted the sizes, resulting in interior spaces that were often rather dark. This camp uses very energy efficient windows that are placed to provide abundant light and views from all of the living spaces. The open, two-story main space distributes light and heat well, and also facilitates cross ventilation for summer cooling. • Like the classic camps, this design uses deep overhangs to shed snow away from the building, but adds the benefit of summer shading for the large windows. • The “great camps” were not very well insulated or tightly constructed, while this camp uses structural insulated panels for the exterior enclosure, resulting in a very energy efficient structure. This project also uses cold roof detailing and rain screen wall detailing to manage moisture. • The classic camps required multiple wood-burning fireplaces to maintain comfort, while this modern camp is comfortably heated with a single wood-burning stove. • Like the “great camps”, this design uses primarily local materials for the exterior envelope but uses the combination of wood and steel to enrich the scale of the structure and to articulate key elements, such as the roof brackets. In some other characteristics, this design departs from the “great camp” traditions. The arrangement of spaces orients all of the main living spaces toward the water and mountain views, with an open configuration that provides visual connections. While the primary winter heating is from passive solar and wood burning, high efficiency “mini-split” heat pumps maintain comfort when the occupants are not at home. The very air-tight building uses a heat recovery ventilation system to provide abundant fresh outside air during the heating season. The lighting and appliances all use contemporary high efficiency technology. The building was sited to manage rain and snow using a water management swale, crossed by a welcoming entry bridge, articulated by large rocks found on the site and native vegetation. (1) Kaiser, Harvey H. Great Camps of the Adirondacks, Boston, MA: David R Godine, 1982