Case Study
Prospect House
Nestled in a seaside neighborhood at the southernmost tip of New Jersey, the Prospect House is designed to sleep eight as a vacation home, and ultimately become the owner’s permanent residence upon retirement.
Dwelling with Nature
Generous windows, typically positioned at room corners, emphasizes long diagonal views through the house to outdoor vegetation and provides abundant natural lighting and ventilation.
The projecting roofs, designed to shield the windows from the midday heat of the summer sun, in the evening catch light emanating from within the house, effectively “framing” it.
French doors enable the indoor and outdoor dining areas to easily function together or separately – an asset for large, extended family summer gatherings.
White oak plank floors and cedar millwork add a warm, casual feel to the main living spaces. Cedar rafters and ceiling planking of the screened-in porch extend into the indoor dining area.
“Always by Design exhibited a commitment not only to visual elegance but also to sustainable functionality in the Prospect House.”
— Kurt Kalafsky, AIA-NJ awards juror
Sustainable Design
The house, which is designed to LEED Silver standards, also received Energy Star certification. Sustainable site features include a vegetative roof, rainwater harvesting for a habitat garden drip irrigation system, permeable “stepping stone” driveway, and the retention of mature existing trees.
The operable windows of the Belvedere tower create a passive cooling “chimney” for the house. Windows throughout the house are positioned to promote natural cross-ventilation for each room and are fitted with hurricane-resistant glazing.
The house is supported on timber piles to provide flood-resistant construction. The materials on the exterior of the house were chosen as much for maintenance and durability as beauty. Accent walls of stained tongue-and-groove cedar planks adjoin both front and rear entrances – complementing the exterior cedar stairs, railings, trellises and decking.
Aging in Place
The house was designed so that all primary living functions are housed on the first floor, with additional sleeping and bathing rooms for guests provided on the floor above.
Circulation routes are generously sized and rooms open to one another to enable a graceful flow from one activity to the next.
The first floor bathroom is “open plan” -- having a curb-free shower and movable shower bench. With the window opened, the slatted custom cedar shutter enables one to enjoy natural summer breezes while maintaining privacy.
Project Data
Location: Cape May Point, New Jersey
Program: Single-family home and accessory painting studio
Size: 2,100 sq. ft.
Builder: MAW Builders, Inc.
Awards
- Honor Award; Society of American Registered Architects (SARA), Pennsylvania Chapter
- Merit Award; New Jersey Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA-NJ)
- National Finalist; Fine Homebuilding Readers' Choice Awards house competition
Accessible flow
Circulation routes are generously sized and rooms open to one another to enable a graceful flow from one activity to the next.
The first floor bathroom is “open plan” -- having a curb-free shower and movable shower bench. With the window opened, the slatted custom cedar shutter enables one to enjoy natural summer breezes while maintaining privacy.
