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Midwest Retreat
Midwest Retreat
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Other Projects by BNIM
Midwest Retreat
This retreat is located on a 700-acre site in the
rolling hills of rural Iowa. The building is approached from the south, by way
of an existing gravel drive that traverses prairie and woodland. The retreat is
sited in an existing clearing, and is surrounded by the restored prairie that
is allowed to grow up to the building's perimeter. The client restored much of
the prairie to its native state with guidance from the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources. Because of it’s siting in this clearing, as well as its form
and materiality, the building echoes the agrarian typologies of the region. The
building is elongated in an east/west direction to maximize daylight control
and to highlight views of the lake to the east and the lone tree to the west.
Designed as a venue for both social and business
gatherings, the retreat has dual uses. Because of this, the programmatic relationships
and requirements depart in subtle but important ways from that of a typical
residence. The functional parti clearly separates the social spaces in the continuously
gabled wood volume above from the support spaces in the concrete box below. In
addition to creating a clear separation of support and social spaces, the
location of primary gathering areas on the second floor provides access to
views and increased opportunity for natural ventilation. At the functional
heart of this second floor space is a large, flexible open area bordered by
three fixed functional elements: a large hearth, a low kitchen, and an antique
bar previously acquired by the client. These key components provide definition
to the space and support its social activities. A single bathroom on the upper
level is configured to allow a high degree of openness for semi-private
functions such as hand washing, while retaining enclosure of the private
elements and functions. Each of the two guest bedrooms at the west end are
designed to serve as a sleeping area, office space or exercise room, and as
such their openness is also heightened.
In addition to proper orientation, the project
uses numerous strategies to reduce its environmental impact. It is heated and cooled
by a geothermal system. The mechanical system is zoned to allow independent
conditioning of the caretaker's unit, the guest rooms and the main living
space. Closed-cell spray foam insulation in the building envelope reduces
infiltration and the need for an additional vapor barrier. Operable windows and
ceiling fans promote natural ventilation. Eight-foot overhangs are employed at
both ends to shade the low-e glass. Reclaimed wood is used for interior and
exterior cladding, and its natural preservatives ensure that exterior finish
products are not required. No finish was used on this same wood at the interior
walls and ceiling.
Because the retreat will be used intermittently,
low-maintenance solutions are important. Instead of gutters, water drains directly
off the roof into a French drain filled with local limestone running
continuously around the building's perimeter. The chimney mass sits within this
gravel perimeter, and is also constructed of limestone. Mechanical inlets and
outlets are protected from the weather, concealed at the top of the concrete
wall behind the extension of the wood rain screen. The concrete base, naturally
preserved wood cladding, and metal roof all contribute to this long-life,
low-maintenance strategy.
The building is organized to achieve maximum
efficiency and minimum waste. The gable is a continuous array of scissor trusses
from east to west. Walls are framed with eight-foot studs that did not require
cutting. Standard reusable concrete formwork establishes the two-foot module of
the building. The wood cladding is coordinated with this two-foot module inside
and out. By employing a reverse board and batten strategy, the cladding adheres
to an 8-inch module while allowing for the use of standard 7 1/4 inch boards.
Space is enclosed and defined as minimally as possible, while still providing
necessary programmatic separation. Measures such as these contribute to a
construction cost that is less than $225 per square foot.
rolling hills of rural Iowa. The building is approached from the south, by way
of an existing gravel drive that traverses prairie and woodland. The retreat is
sited in an existing clearing, and is surrounded by the restored prairie that
is allowed to grow up to the building's perimeter. The client restored much of
the prairie to its native state with guidance from the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources. Because of it’s siting in this clearing, as well as its form
and materiality, the building echoes the agrarian typologies of the region. The
building is elongated in an east/west direction to maximize daylight control
and to highlight views of the lake to the east and the lone tree to the west.
Designed as a venue for both social and business
gatherings, the retreat has dual uses. Because of this, the programmatic relationships
and requirements depart in subtle but important ways from that of a typical
residence. The functional parti clearly separates the social spaces in the continuously
gabled wood volume above from the support spaces in the concrete box below. In
addition to creating a clear separation of support and social spaces, the
location of primary gathering areas on the second floor provides access to
views and increased opportunity for natural ventilation. At the functional
heart of this second floor space is a large, flexible open area bordered by
three fixed functional elements: a large hearth, a low kitchen, and an antique
bar previously acquired by the client. These key components provide definition
to the space and support its social activities. A single bathroom on the upper
level is configured to allow a high degree of openness for semi-private
functions such as hand washing, while retaining enclosure of the private
elements and functions. Each of the two guest bedrooms at the west end are
designed to serve as a sleeping area, office space or exercise room, and as
such their openness is also heightened.
In addition to proper orientation, the project
uses numerous strategies to reduce its environmental impact. It is heated and cooled
by a geothermal system. The mechanical system is zoned to allow independent
conditioning of the caretaker's unit, the guest rooms and the main living
space. Closed-cell spray foam insulation in the building envelope reduces
infiltration and the need for an additional vapor barrier. Operable windows and
ceiling fans promote natural ventilation. Eight-foot overhangs are employed at
both ends to shade the low-e glass. Reclaimed wood is used for interior and
exterior cladding, and its natural preservatives ensure that exterior finish
products are not required. No finish was used on this same wood at the interior
walls and ceiling.
Because the retreat will be used intermittently,
low-maintenance solutions are important. Instead of gutters, water drains directly
off the roof into a French drain filled with local limestone running
continuously around the building's perimeter. The chimney mass sits within this
gravel perimeter, and is also constructed of limestone. Mechanical inlets and
outlets are protected from the weather, concealed at the top of the concrete
wall behind the extension of the wood rain screen. The concrete base, naturally
preserved wood cladding, and metal roof all contribute to this long-life,
low-maintenance strategy.
The building is organized to achieve maximum
efficiency and minimum waste. The gable is a continuous array of scissor trusses
from east to west. Walls are framed with eight-foot studs that did not require
cutting. Standard reusable concrete formwork establishes the two-foot module of
the building. The wood cladding is coordinated with this two-foot module inside
and out. By employing a reverse board and batten strategy, the cladding adheres
to an 8-inch module while allowing for the use of standard 7 1/4 inch boards.
Space is enclosed and defined as minimally as possible, while still providing
necessary programmatic separation. Measures such as these contribute to a
construction cost that is less than $225 per square foot.
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