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Longiaru-Chay House

Project Description
Coldham and Hartman Architects has designed a and has already undergone”. They ruled out lawns
2400 sq. ft private home and music studio in Lev- and landscaping, decks and patios — the outside
erett, MA, currently under construction. is appreciated from the interior. They wanted the
house filled with light and sun, especially in win-
The building is a single-story combined studio ter, when they hoped it might enter “with as much
space and residence. Owners and architect force as possible”.
worked together closely to create a structure with
clean contemporary lines, Asian-influenced design In a woodland setting, this balancing act required
elements, and a modernist look. In concrete and special care: on the one hand minimizing the de-
steel, with a shallow butterfly roof, the structure struction wrought by site preparation; on the other,
uses modern building materials inside and out, and clearing enough vegetation to flood the interior with
deliberately breaks from traditional residential ma- light. The house sits cleanly and conspicuously on
terials and design. The interior will be open, crisp, a ledge on the hillside. The garage is slid into the
and minimal. hillside under a hypobolic paraboloidal roof that
peels up from the ground.
The owners were determined at the outset to
preserve the natural setting — in their words,
“considering the violence it is about to undergo
Longiaru-Chay House
Program-1of 4
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The home and site itself must be the design. We are interested in a home that
blurs the usual residential/commercial design divisions. We imagine the home to
be one floor. We are very interested in commercial engineered building materials
including poured concrete, steel framing, or architectural metals.

“We appreciate you focusing your concern for your client's wishes but I hope you
understand that for us those wishes also include that you be free to express
whatever ideas you might have wished you could try in the past but never had
the right client, things you have seen and admired with regard to shape, mass,
materials, organization, etc. no matter how radical. We have tremendous respect
for the architectural imagination and put it on the level of musical composition”.

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1. Build a smaller house with simple, contemporary, Asian design elements and a
modernist look.
Consideration is be given to products such as TRESPA, Kalwall, and even
RHEINZINK — in any event, not the traditional residential siding materials.
The Kalwall product has a Shoji-like appearance but is only a start, intended to
suggest Asian influences and to help break away from standard residential
materials and design. We are firmly committed not to build what is usually
thought of as a nurturing residential plan, but to incorporate modernistic
commercial elements in the design. I would rather start out too far and have to
pull back some, rather than start with a typical home design and try and
disguise its origins

2. Create the house in an undisturbed natural setting


No decks, no patios, and certainly not any kind of manicured lawn or
landscaping effects, but rather something that preserves the natural wooded
look as much as possible, considering the violence it is about to undergo and
has already undergone putting in the leach field and stump dump. Excessive
grading and retaining walls are to be avoided. A retaining wall looks like a scar
on the landscape, not matter how skillfully disguised. Even a natural stone wall
no matter how well built looks to me like a scab covering an open wound and
speaks to a failure of design, a brute force effort to impose something on the
Longiaru-Chay House
Program-2of 4
landscape. Let's avoid that at all cost.

3. Even in the woodland setting, fill the house with light and sun
The light is summer can be filtered through the deciduous tree canopy, but in
the winter, bring it inside with as much force as possible. Balancing this goal
with the on above will require constant appraisal, since they essentially in
conflict — though the thrust of the Goal #2 is more toward the terrain than the
vegetation.

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Create a “sneak-in” type of entry experience

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No formal dining arrangement; retain an open spatial sequence that includes:
� One single level for the whole house.
� High — 10 feet – ceilings
� Extensive concealed storage to allow the living spaces to be uncluttered,
clean, open-feeling.
� No fire place or wood-burning device
� Place for TV; Ilsoo presently has an exercise device in this space and the
TV is associated with that activity.
� Artificial lighting ..........”minimal ...”?

Kitchen to be “public” and informal. The present kitchen, a U-shape with a


peninsula dividing counter to the larger living space is a good model.
It should —
� be open to other spaces
� contain an “office/desk” for mail receipt/sorting and telephone
� consider the existing countertop material (ask Doug Kohl)
� range and walloven
� consider a pantry near the point of arrival from the car.
� Sink oriented toward the sun/south
Longiaru-Chay House
Program-3 of 4
In keeping with the woodland lot, we would like as many sliding doors and
casement or even commercial windows as possible (no imitation grilles, nothing
suggestive of colonial design) in addition to the Kalwall.
We are slowly trying to reduce furnishings to a minimum so are uninterested in a
home designed to showcase interior design or art work.
Introduce a generous amount of sunlight.

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The bedroom space to be approximately that of present house — ....., with a
seating bay window or the interior effect of same.
� Modest bathroom, no tub, just a 4’ x3’ shower. Make it something of the
antithesis of the bathroom in their current house. Make it “functionally
accessible”.
� Walk-in closet
� Small TV

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This space is to function as a bedroom for visiting children and guests.
A second bathroom is to be associated with this bedroom space. Make it
“functionally accessible also, since the house is a single level.
(It also may function as an office and a “media space” with a second TV —
Peter?Ilsoo I have this in my notes... please confirm)

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Build an isolated, separate structure for a studio for the pianos. One reason
being to isolate the piano sound from the living area, (without recourse to
expensive) soundproofing methods). Another being to provide a future owner
with a small guest house or artist studio with bath but no kitchen. The lot is large
enough and varied enough that its location is a major design consideration
The height should be considered to be two stories. This might result in a cube
structure, but maybe one that with lots of Kalwall can be made to bring in lots of
museum quality natural light and acoustical resonance.
Given our thoughts about music, we imagine the studio to have a modern
meditative chapel-like appearance, although that's a phrase I just throw out there
without being sure what I mean by it. It might mean nothing more than that it be
simple and with elegant lines. Kalwall seems to be particularly well suited to an
artist's studio in that it is effective at defusing museum quality light and also
seems to have above-average sound insulating qualities. In addition to their wall
systems, we would also be interested in as much natural light as possible in the
form of skylights and Kalwall seems to be a one-stop shopping place for that
also. The studio would have to have at least some reverberant acoustical
properties, which might mean nothing more than highly reflective surfaces and a
high ceiling or skylight.
Recently I became aware of colored water tubes and am interested in them both
Longiaru-Chay House
Program-4 of 4
from a design standpoint and as deriving some energy benefit from them. They
might be useful in the separate studio since very little is planned for that room
aside from the concert and baby grand pianos. It is also possible that
structure might be built on a radiant slab able to support the weight.
� Accommodate two pianos 5’wide x 9’ long and 5’wide x 5’ 6” long.
� Electronic keyboard.
� Avoid direct sun onto the pianos.
� Bench/bay window seat.
� Water tubes with consideration to their spectacular expression.
� Storage for records (40 lin. ft.), books and sheet music (50 lin. ft.), and
CD’s (50 lin. ft.). Note: there are three existing storage units but these
may best be used elsewhere.
� CD/record playing equipment —
� Beyond this, there is to be archive storage (how much??) in less
expensive, though heated, space in the house or garage.
� Half-bathroom

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For one car, site maintenance equipment (specify....) and storage. The building
to be separate but close to the house, and at substantially the same level as the
house.

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After this summer and having to deal with heat, humidity and pollen/allergy
concerns for both Ilsoo and the pianos, we realize that we will need a rather more
sophisticated climate control system than a space heater or wood burning stove
such as a geothermal heat pump system that could provide radiant heat to a
floor.
� Cooling — to all spaces?
� Favor radiant heat delivered via the floor

Environmental Design Requirements

Further consideration has not changed our favoring the radiant floor. It might be
just a fear based on ignorance but with the concrete slab on grade, no matter
how well insulated, we are concerned that with just forced air heat, without
overheating the rooms, the floor will never warm enough to allow the no shoe
rule or the kind of close relationship to the floor we like to maintain year round.
There will be no carpeting of course, and possibly only bare colored concrete in
places. We don't want to risk it not being a comfortable and inviting surface.
Longiaru-Chay House
Space Needs Table-1 of 2
04-05 Moomaw House ��������
Program Requirements
•Space Needs Table
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Entry Space — inc. mudroom storage 50
Storage Closets — adjacent to living spaces 150
Kitchen 200
Pantry and recycling area 30
Large Living/Dining Room 600
Eating Alcove in above
Office Alcove in above
Principal Bedroom 250
Walk-in Closet 70
Principal Bathroom — with separate shower and tub 120
Secondary Bedroom/Study/…… 105
Bathroom — with shower only 80

Subtotal������������������������������������������� 1,655 ����


Subtotal - Heated Space - Ground Floor �����

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NO SECOND STORY INTENDED

Subtota�������������������������������������������� 0 ����
Subtotal - Heated Space - Upper Floor �

Subtotal of Heated Space- Both Floors �����


Subtotal Construction cost: House ���� ��������

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NO BASEMENT INTENDED

Subtotal������������������������������������������� 0 ����
Subtotal - Basement (Finished spaces only) �
Subtotal Construction cost: ( finishing and windows only) �� ��

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Studio area — two pianos principally 400
Storage 30
Bathroom

Subtotal������������������������������������������� 430 ����


Subtotal - Heated Space - Studio ���
Subtotal Construction cost: ���� �������

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Longiaru-Chay House
Space Needs Table-2 of 2
04-05 Moomaw House ��������
Program Requirements
•Space Needs Table

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Attic
In Above
Mechanical and Storage 0

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Garage 500 ��� $40,000
Screened porch ��� $0
Storage shed ��� $0
Linking Walkways — sheltered, enclosed ��� $0
Deck 200 ��� $7,000
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Parking area and driveway $12,000
Septic system $0
Water supply and electric utility trenching $6,000
Retaining walls $10,000
Landscaping ( tree pruning/maintenance; ) $6,000
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Architectural Design Fees at 10% $57,110
Cost of Furnishings $0
Wastewater treatment system design Complete
Site surveying $500
Permit fees

CONTINGENY @ ……% $0
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SITE ANALYSIS
Longiaru-Chay House
The diagrams below show the keys Site
aspectsAnalysis-1 ofare3 dealing with.
of the site that we

RIVERFRONT AREA: The parcel size 6.61 acres SLOPES: The site is mostly steeply sloping, except for one
(288,000± s.f) , 62,000 s.f. of which is within the RFA — 22% large area within the RFA (where the developer cleared in
of parcel. The sub-division road runs between the river and most anticipation of building in the early 1990ʼs), and a narrow sliver
of the RFA that is within the parcel. 25 feet higher elevation upland of the larger level area.

SITE DRAINAGE/SURFACE WATER: A significant VEGETATION: The site is mostly forested. The large level
amount of surface storm-water is fed onto the site from a area within the RFA has a stand of splendid oak trees; the under-
drainage culvert that was installed when the original sub-division story was removed in the early 1990ʼs. The open meadow is a
road was constructed. This intermittent flow fans out as it capped stump dump, residual from the sub-division road
approaches the lower portion of the site. construction. It has steeply sloping western edge.

SOLAR APERTURE/ACCESS: The noon sun shines


ACCESS AND ULTILITIES: The access driveway along the contour (perpendicular to the fall-line). Solar access
(shown dashed) was rough in 15 years ago in anticipation of a can be expanded by extending the “meadow” clearing to the
house site within the oak grove. The driveway entry point is west. The mass of Laurel Hill to the east delays the morning sun-
optimally located, providing good sightline in both directions. rise. The high canopy oak grove is a wonderful, natural summer
The septic system was installed in 2003-4. shading capability.

Coldham Architects, LLC


Page 2 of 6
Longiaru-Chay House
Longiaru-Chay House — Leverett, Site
MA: Analysis-Alternative
Notice of Intent Application
2 of 3
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS — Alternative ONE
The site analysis reveals a narrow strip of almost level land up from the RFA boundary, which
can accept a house without an undue cost premium if the building plan is longer and narrower
than the base case floor plan. Initial design study indicates that a successful design (one that
satisfies the function needs of the Applicants) can be achieved within this floor plan shape
constraint. It is the view of the Applicant that the Alternative One shown below is “practically
and substantially equivalent economically” to the originally presented Plan A.

a) Cost — Longer and narrower plan fits the level upland “shelf” without significant added
construction cost. The house site, being approx 30 ft. higher than the base scheme location,
requires a longer driveway (over 300, in length) to achieve a less-than-10% grade. This added
cost of driveway is offset by the reduced cost of the access path to the music studio with the
studio locates as Option C.
b) Proposed Use —Creative adjustment of the floor plan has allowed the Applicantʼs functional
requirements to be satisfied is this constrained location.
c) Logistics — So long as the driveway length can be extended to stay below an average grade
of 10%, no variance from the Town of Leverett by-law is necessary.

With the house, garage, and driveway substantially outside the RFA, the Alternatives analysis
now is focused on the optimal location of the music studio — whose site the Plan Alternative One
has usurped. Three options for the location of the music studio are evaluated as Alternatives 1A,
1B and 1C.
Longiaru-Chay House
Site Analysis-Alternative
Longiaru-Chay House — Leverett, MA: Notice of Intent Application
3 of 3
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS — Alternative 1A, 1B and 1C
Three alternative locations for the music studio are evaluated. All are within 150 ft. radius of the
house; none is located on the very steep portion to the east (right); none is in the drainage
outwash area to the south. All retain the principal trees (shown as black dots on the plans) —
these trees (oaks or pines) are between 24” and 36” caliper specimens in very good health and
have excellent form.
ALTERNATIVE 1A
a) Cost — Construction on the steeper sloping portion
of the site adds construction cost and site disruption.
Access to this location 15ft-plus lower elevation than
the house requires a long driveway adding further to
the disruption.
b) Proposed Use —

c) Logistics —
The provision of an access to the studio in this location
will require excessive disturbance to the site outside (but
immediately adjacent) the RFA and to the immediate
vicinity of the house

ALTERNATIVE 1B
a) Cost — Construction on the steeper sloping portion
of the site adds construction cost and site disruption.
Access to this location 15ft-plus lower elevation than
the house requires a long driveway adding further to
the disruption.
b) Proposed Use —

c) Logistics —
The provision of an access to the studio in this location
will require excessive disturbance to the site outside (but
immediately adjacent) the RFA and to the immediate
vicinity of the house
This situation is uncomfortably close to the drainage
outwash area.

ALTERNATIVE 1C
a) Cost —By far the least cost and least site disruption,
though the bulk of the disruption is just inside the
RFA.
b) Proposed Use —

c) Logistics —
The provision of an access to the studio in this location
will require the maintenance of the existing driveway
through the edge of the RFA, but the route is already
established
Moomaw House
Initial Site Design Concepts
The northern garage location produces a longer, less steep
driveway. That’s an advantage. But the driveway severs the
undisturbed connection to the studio location and pushes the
house further to the south and further from the very attractive
scenic setting of the rocky outcrops. But this location increas-
es the available sun with less clearing of existing vegetation .

Southern Garage Location 1

Southern Garage Location 2


Moomaw House
Initial Site Plans
Attached Scheme:
Benefits of attachment include:
- More convenient / more effi-
cient for studio basement as sin-
gle, central mechanical location.
- Studio basement more accessible
and more useful as a storage space.
- Possibility of studio doorway to form
second means of egress for house,
thereby avoiding addressing the problem
of where this requirement might be put.

Problems with attachment include:


- The site concept is of three (two, re-
ally) buildings. The house and the stu-
dio are separate formal elements and
how can this be satisfactorily projected
with these masses joined? (Note: At
present, the site building massing re-
solves as three distinctly independent
and geometrically simple shapes: The
house as a rectilinear prism, the ga-
rage as a tetrahedral triangle and the
studio as a curved, vaulted semi- or
quarter-cylinder. Peter wants to pre-
serve this independent clarity of form.)

Detached Scheme:
Location to the east of the
house, adjacent to the entry.
Studio building in this location creates
two positively defined exterior spaces.
One to the south, between the studio /
garage “hill” and the house as an arrival
courtyard – this with the double oak tree
as a prominent landscape feature. The
second space beyond – a more private
outdoor space, defined by the house,
the studio and the face of the rocks.
Longiaru-Chay House
Conceptual Design-
Garage
Longiaru-Chay House
Initial Schematic Design-
Plan
Moomaw House
Initial Schematic Design-
Garage

Peter thought well of the concept in which the grade of the


landscape is brought up over the garage roof. The warped
plane of the roof (similar in for to that deployed for the house) lifts
the SW corner to admit direct sunlight. Otherwise the building
is dug into the land and is invisible from the house and studio.

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House Plans November 2005

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Longiaru-Chay House
Schematic Design-
Studio Plans November 2005

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