Florianopolis, Brazil
Completed: 2023
Collaborators:
Local Architect of Record
This oceanside site on a steep slope accommodates a family compound constructed with sustainable local materials. These drawings and photos show the primary residence with pool and gathering spaces.
The site includes a sandy cove beach and large boulders along the shore and scattered throughout the property. The houses will be nestled among these spectacular rocks, embracing both the terrain and the view.
It serves as an experiment to explore whether commonly used building materials with high carbon or toxicity footprints -- concrete, steel, aluminum, etc. -- can be substituted by more sustainable products. The preference is for local materials, starting with stone and wood from the site itself.
Each material was evaluated for its impact on the environment. The result is a comfortable, beautiful home with a significantly lower environmental footprint than conventional construction.
Sketches for the main residence are shown to the left. This building includes an open living / dining / kitchen area with outdoor terraces, three bedroom suites, an office, a poolside cabana, two staff bedrooms, an art studio, a home theatre, storage, and parking.
The construction photographs below highlight materials and methods used throughout the project: stone gathered from the site, structural slate blocks from a local quarry, and tropical hardwood timber.
Piermont, New York
Status: Unbuilt
Collaborators: Karla Karwas, Raeven Architecture PLLC
This project doubles the size of an existing 620 square foot home on a small creekside lot, adding a parking area, mechanical room, and a second floor.
Sustainable design principals were employed throughout the design, which turns its back on the busy street to the north and opens to water views to the south.
Overhangs and setbacks block direct sunlight in summer while admitting winter sun. Minimizing north-side apertures blocks cold north winds and provides privacy from the busy street. South-facing roof solar panels fuel electrical systems, including an electric car charging station. Kebony wood cladding and sho shugi ban trim provide durable, sustainable enclosure.
A window over the kitchen sink with a wooden shutter blended into the the cladding allows natural light while limiting visibility from passing cars and pedestrians. For this shutter, WaCa designed a custom font which mirrors the house number “215” from either direction — cut out of the wooden shutter, it serves as an illuminated sign on the inside during the day and on the exterior at night.
WaCa Design led the client through a challenging local approval process, adjusting the design to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, ultimately gaining approval for this design.
Southern Brazil
Completed: 2019
Collaborators:
Local Architect of Record
Two shipping containers provide amenities for a construction site in southern Brazil. The lower 20 ft container provides storage for construction materials while the upper 40 ft container serves as an office and temporary dwelling.
The project transforms a “reefer”, an insulated refrigerated unit, using materials and methods intended for the larger construction project at the site. Except for the re-used shipping containers, metal and other industrial materials are avoided wherever possible.
Interior walls and built in furniture test a variety of tropical hardwoods and cheaper local woods. All wood is treated with natural products — the eucalyptus floors and pine kitchen cabinets are burned and finished with tunge oil while hardwoods are waxed. Counters and shower walls are made from local slate. Upholstery uses local leather. These warm natural materials are juxtaposed with the industrial coldness of the container’s original stainless steel walls.
Hardware is made from wood: interior doorknobs are replaced with sliding latches, hinges are replaced with pivoting pegs, drawers and doors slide on wooden tracks. Exterior decks are constructed using joinery in place of metal fasteners.
The cantilevered bedroom at the end of the container takes advantage of the steep terrain, floating above the forest to embrace spectacular ocean views.
Florianopolis, Brazil
Completed: 2021
Collaborators:
Local Architect of Record
This small building houses the caretaker's family and infrastructure for maintenance. Sight lines allow visibility of the driveway entrance from the top floor with open living / dining /kitchen. The floor below accommodates three bedrooms and two baths. A large garage with workshop and storage for maintenance equipment is at the lowest level.
The building follows the site, with the garage hidden from view from the driveway by a large steep boulder.
The construction photographs below demonstrate the primary construction materials: structural slate blocks from a local quarry and local hardwood salvaged from a nearby historic structure. Instead of typical plywood sheathing, which contains toxic glues, we found a locally-produced material made from recycled packaging. Massive retaining walls were made using granite from the site.
Restoration/Addition of 1837 Home
Location: Piermont, NY
Completed: 2009
Collaborators:
William Toth, BOL Architecture
Richard Hartlage, Landscape
This project involved the restoration of an historic house to its original splendor and the addition of matching wings. Post-renovation, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places and received a Preservation Merit Award from the Rockland County Historical Society.
The 1.5 acre grounds were transformed with the addition of patios, a swimming pool, and outdoor "rooms" articulated by stone walls, steel edging and plantings.
Interiors are furnished with a mix of antiques, contemporary art created by artist friends, and new custom furniture designed by WaCa.
New wings house functions not included in the original structure: bathrooms, closets, and a main-level kitchen. Wings also accommodate mechanical equipment and plumbing, allowing modern systems without altering the layout and ornamentation of the the original house.
Local historic materials were salvaged and reused wherever possible. While this originated with a desire for authenticity, it led to an appreciation of the potential for reused and locally sourced materials as sustainable building materials.
Loft Renovation
Location: Midtown Manhattan
Phase: Construction Documents
Collaborators:
Raeven Arch., Architect of Record
This midtown Manhattan loft renovation illustrates how aesthetic possibilities can be expanded while minimizing the embodied energy of construction materials.
Using three strategies — reusing existing demolition materials, locally sourcing materials, and “counting calories” for everything else — WaCa is testing a new approach to specifying materials and fixtures, as shown in the diagram to the left. We are exploring the limits of reducing embodied energy of construction materials while complying with perhaps the the toughest building code in the world. “…If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere …”
We believe that these constraints can be springboards for innovation. Repurposing demolition materials from the site, we are designing new light fixtures, wall treatments, hardware and millwork details. Local sourcing of materials (e.g. granite terrace pavers from a quarry only 35 miles from the site) revives the historic practice of bringing the city’s natural edges into its heart. Minimizing embodied energy of more complex components (e.g. window units) requires research, revealing new possibilities (e.g. using accoya wood for windows).
Each decision considers cost, functionality, and aesthetics in addition to minimizing operating energy and embodied energy.
Aesthetic and functional designs were tested in the scale model shown here.
Florianopolis, Brazil
Completed: 2022
Collaborators:
Local Architect of Record
This compact house serves as the guest house for the oceanside Rochas Floridas family compound.
Constructed primarily of local wood, including wood salvaged from local buildings and sustainably harvested tropical hardwoods, the house nestles against dramatic cascading rocks on one side and opens to the ocean view on the other.
The house is hidden from its initial approach via a bridge leading to a roof terrace. An outdoor staircase spirals around an existing palm tree to the open living / dining floor with outdoor terraces. Below, two bedroom suites are located in "drawers" cantilevered over the terrain, while a "bunk room" with bath accommodates four.
The steep terrain provides construction challenges, as illustrated in the photographs below. The base is made from structural slate blocks from a local quarry. Sheathing is made from recycled food packaging. The cantilevered structure called for using steel beams, and we were able to source reused beams with the right dimensions from a salvage yard. The interior features local heritage “caela preta“ wood salvaged from nearby structures.
Restoration of 19th Century Home
Location: Piermont, NY
Completed: 2014
Collaborators:
Meg Fowler, Architect of Record
This project involved the gut renovation of a historic home listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
While historic details were restored, systems, fixtures and windows were upgraded. Walls were moved to accommodate better room layouts. A new volume was added housing the master bath with a view of the adjacent wooded park. An existing sun porch and mudroom were demolished and upgraded with insulated enclosures.
The grounds were extensively overhauled by moving the driveway and parking areas to create a gracious entry sequence. Outbuildings were demolished, and new fencing, stone walls, steps, paths, a patio and plantings were added.
Post-renovation, the project was recognized with a Rescue Award from the Historical Society of Rockland County.
The house was staged for sale and sold in 2014.
