VH R-10 G House by Architecture-Infrastructure-Research in Tisbury, Massachusetts

Project: VH R-10 G HouseArchitects: Architecture-Infrastructure-ResearchLocation: Tisbury, Massachusetts, USAArea: 1,000 sq ftPhotography: Bill Timmerman

VH R-10 G House by Architecture-Infrastructure-Research

Architecture-Infrastructure-Research designed the VH R-10 G House in the small town of Tisbury, Massachusetts, USA. With approximately 1,000 square feet of living space, the design seeks to maximize the beautiful natural surroundings, similar to another project by this studio – the Ghost Wash House in Arizona.

The VH R-10 G House is a guest house prototype named after zoning and location: the R-10 zone in Ward Haven. Guest houses must meet certain limitations: zoning restrictions define limits for guest houses, which must be located on lots larger than 12,500 sq ft. The main house and guest house must be separate and not closer than 10 feet apart. Guest house area cannot exceed 600 sq ft. Guest house height must be less than 24 feet. The first floor of the guest house must not exceed six feet in height (otherwise it is considered a second story, and the basement counts toward living space). The basement must not be accessible from inside the main house (otherwise it is included in the living space).

The initial design of the guest house emerged from a desire to maximize the allowable area for guest houses in this zone. The client builds and lives in the guest house as their primary residence. The goal was to maximize future lot value. Given height and area limitations, a rectangular container measuring 16 ft x 40 ft x 24 ft with a 4-foot module was drawn. The living area of 600 sq ft is set at a height of 5 feet 6 inches above ground – the basement was raised half a story, allowing for access and vehicle entry via a relatively steep driveway from the street.

Despite the living space being elevated, the 24-foot height limit allowed for a double-height space. The last constraint, access to the basement, was addressed by dividing the rectangle into three distinct volumes: kitchen, living room, and bedroom. The central volume (living/dining) is offset by 4 feet from the other volumes to create space for vertical connection. The three displaced volumes are wrapped in a wooden rain screen that restores the 20 ft x 40 ft rectangle, encompassing the vertical connection. This positioning places the vertical connection outside the house (from living room to basement) and inside the building shell. This ambiguity creates a multi-layered expansion of interior space toward the exterior, offering weather protection and privacy.

Given that Martha's Vineyard is an island, labor resources, materials and weather significantly affect construction duration and budget. The house combines prefabricated building methods with local production techniques, creating a repeatable construction system unique to the island. The foundation was originally designed using pre-poured concrete footings, but due to widespread use of concrete on site, the cost was lower and both the foundation and enclosing walls could be made from the same material.

However, standard concrete forms give a rough appearance; thus, new waterproof OSB (oriented strand board) was used, preserving the random texture of wood fibers on the concrete surface. This pattern gave a very finished look, hiding cracks. The OSB forms were then reused for building the floor and roof of the house. The main structure was built using structural insulated panels (SIPs) with a 4-foot span. Panels were assembled in New Hampshire and shipped by ferry. The entire structure was erected in 3 days, including two 40-foot engineered beams for a sliding partition.

The stress surface of the SIP system allowed for an open interior with only a single 4-foot seismic wall element in the main living/dining volume. The external rain screen, also with a 4-foot span, was made from prefabricated panels assembled on the ground and lifted using a block and tackle. This system accelerates construction time and allows easy removal of panels for maintenance or access to the protective shell.

-Architecture-Infrastructure-Research