At Turkel Design, our system brings predictability to the variables in custom home design. One of those variables is the permitting process. Homeowners often fear that strict regulatory oversight will compromise the design that they’ve fallen in love with. Luckily, our team views such challenges as opportunities to make the architecture even more beautiful. Here is an example.
When a recently retired doctor and a visual artist chose us to design Veil House, their summer home on Martha’s Vineyard, they envisioned a glass view façade overlooking the ocean. The site’s elevated perch on the island’s western edge is positioned to capture both water views and spectacular sunsets. It is the ideal location for a relaxing vacation home.
A Challenge Becomes an Opportunity
In an effort to control light pollution, however, local building regulations require the view façade of homes on the island to be composed of no more than 50% glass. Other architects might have proposed adding height to the building to accommodate the desired glazing, which not only would have obstructed neighboring views, but would also have compromised the owners’ vision of a home that is more modestly scaled than its allowable building area.
We took a different approach, devising a solution that may be the most striking aspect of the home.
Our team designed a flexible solution that pleased both the homeowners and the local permitting board: custom slatted wooden screens that slide across the view façade. Easy to operate, the screens control both the view and flow of light as they move across the home’s single level. They always obscure half of the view façade’s glazing, no matter which position they take. When viewed from the exterior between dusk and dawn, they temper the interior light, creating a warm glow that accentuates the home’s receptivity.
Thoughtful material selection is key to the screens’ effectiveness. They are made from hemlock that has been thermally modified—the application of extreme heat is a sustainable way to ensure that the wood stands up to the elements—which complements the home’s palette of natural materials that are both beautiful and durable.
Benefiting from the organic quality of wood, the screens create a graceful “veil” between the home and nature. When used in combination with the retractable walls of glass that span the great room, they allow the homeowners to easily and naturally adjust the atmosphere of the living spaces. “Typically, you want to sit inside in the morning until the sun burns the dew off the furniture,” says the doctor. With the screens and doors swept aside, however, “You can sit inside and listen to the birds, listen to the waves.”
Predictability in Permitting
At Turkel Design, our team has built a track record of securing permits in some of the strictest regulatory environments in North America and beyond: from the Vineyard to the Hamptons, from Aspen to Hawaii. We do this not just by preparing convincing drawings and diagrams, but by devising creative solutions that satisfy all stakeholders. We view the restrictions that we encounter in these regulatory environments as opportunities to enhance the beauty and experience of each home.
Even better, this novel approach didn’t slow down the project. “We only went to the planning board twice, which is pretty much unheard of on the Vineyard,” says the homeowner.
If you’d like to embark on an elegant custom home with the confidence to navigate regulatory challenges, please contact us. We’d love to discuss how you want to live.
