Taylored Architecture
Project Name: Contemporary Island House
Location: Clayton, NY
Completion Date: September 2023
Category: Residential: 1A: Single Family Detached, less than 2,500 sq ft
Contemporary Island House is a highly contemporary “steel and glass” house on a private island in the Thousand Islands. The clients had goals to remain “off of the grid”, have access to the property year-round and have an essentially flat roof system.Â
The design took shape from a structural grid of steel columns that support a substantial steel roof framing system. We coordinated with engineers and fabricators to develop this dynamic structure. The steel columns are expressed on the exterior of the building allowing all the exterior walls to be non-load bearing. This allowed for floor-to-ceiling modern sliding doors and windows without any expressed headers.
The white oak interior flooring was used as the interior ceiling material and was carried out onto the exterior ceilings/soffit diffusing the separation from the interior to the exterior of the building. A double-cantilevering 30-foot roof creates a dynamic experience from the grounds and deck. With the goal of the built structure blending with the natural landscape, the flat roof also creates a calming, leveling experience on this low and flat island in the middle of a large bay. A Corten steel fascia punctuates the structural expression of the design. The house was designed to elegantly hover over the natural landscape of the island.
This island is off the grid and utilizes a self-adjusting solar array for all electrical needs. There is a backup generator on the island and two buried propane tanks that help compensate for the lack of solar energy during the winter months. The system has functioned well and allows the clients to enjoy the property and house year-round.
