This project had many spatial limitations as it was designed as a modular home with each unit no larger or smaller than 10′ x 5′. The first floor footprint was also limited to 20′ x 30′. In an effort to maximize space, I designed the second floor with a larger footprint, which granted the house’s offset geometry. The architectural drawings were created in AutoCad and the design was modeled in SketchUp, then rendered with V-Ray.
Offset was created for a recently married couple planning to move to the Ithaca, NY area. The couple intends to expand their house in the future as they are planning on expanding their family. The wife is a journalist and the husband is a freelance graphic designer. The couple enjoys hosting friends, cooking, hiking, and they often both work from home. As a result, the design has an open floor plan with a guest room on the first floor, office space on the second floor, and storage throughout. Due to the limited space on the ground floor, deck space on the second floor was maximized. This can be used as lounge space or dining space.
The office was designed with respect to the husband’s frequent meetings with clients. The exterior stair design allows for client-access to the office without intruding the home’s private space. Additionally, the attached W.C. prevents intrusion into the couple’s private master bathroom.
Warm, natural materials were used for the home’s interior, complimented by the optimized natural light. With this approach, the space feels larger than it is. The maple wood flooring is accented with darker walnut furniture. The home was styled with modern design pieces to reflect the modern nature of the modular home’s exterior design. I also used a hand-drawn pattern of mine to accent the living/kitchen space and give it interest. The exterior is made up of clabbered wood siding with steel and concrete accents.
