https://katewebb.viewbook.com/ 2013-09-20 weekly 0.5 https://katewebb.viewbook.com/selected-projects 2013-10-20 weekly 0.5 https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/2004763bfee25a5c44c76e2c51ecdd8a_hd.jpg This Cape Cod vacation home is new construction, scheduled to begin building this fall. Its modern, industrial design alludes to the fact that it is a Passive House Certified design. Passive House is a cutting edge approach to building, originating in Germany, which uses passive solar design, sophisticated materials and specialized construction techniques, to create a structure that can self-regulate without heating or cooling. This view from the southeast shows the ribbon-like expression of the Sunscreens/Decks, a formal motif which is carried throughout the project. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/3ca27f05d36b29bdfa83340ebaf36478_hd.jpg Renovation of a duplex penthouse in the Chelsea area of Manhattan. The shared spaces take advantage of the high loft ceilings with an expansive open plan. The striking spiral staircase creates a focal point for the space. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/050496f485d829a425525927d31bcda8_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/c46187ffca51173896fe04e2b35e21c2_hd.jpg Renovation of a kitchen, bar, and dining room in a Manhattan apartment: a design for two very specific people. The couple has very defined roles with regard to preparing dinner and libations. The wife, who is a small 5'-2", rules the kitchen, whereas the husband, over 6'-0" tall, prevails over the bar. The design integrates their divergent concerns and height within a black walnut box, replacing a demolished wall that previously separated the kitchen and dining room. The walnut box is 3' deep, allowing them enough space to smoothly complete their individual functions with some extra room for perhaps a spontaneous exchange or perhaps some fun. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/728241609ca129dc0795d9534041d30b_hd.jpg Renovation of a duplex loft in Soho, New York. This view shows the glass slot on the left, which creates a visual connection through multiple spaces along the north window wall. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/caf98ee61b7ee3ce890e2d9d0182dd15_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/6efe8d8f6afee6ba420876ffdfa6d384_hd.jpg The project is located at the tip of Cape Cod in Wellfleet, MA. Therefore, the site has the beachy feeling of a pine barren, with sandy turf and mostly pine forests. The building is sited at the edge of a steep, sandy incline, taking advantage of beautiful views over the creek that runs along the southern edge of the lot. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/0bc9dfb3eeae8057d2705f89682cc05c_hd.jpg The custom spiral stair is framed by light panels, becoming an almost sculptural object. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/0f7aba614b95abf753c52694319707cb_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/5e1beb14ca9db96052d42e7a76ef1b42_hd.jpg The plan shows how the Kitchen becomes a unit that unfolds out of the black walnut box. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/a558f9278c96b2d7ecfa4aa6ad4d5d39_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/2df7d9e13d3d1704dc9c72364c4a94d5_hd.jpg A view from the northeast, showing the entry at the North Porch. The building is clad in a rainscreen of fibercement panels, which provide additional protection to the thick, insulative layer of the exterior walls. The exhaust and intake pipes of the sophisticated HRV system can be seen here, as well as the drain pipe for the rainwater storage cistern. The HRV transfers the temperature of the exhausted air to the fresh intake air from the outside, allowing the interior temperature to remain stable while providing one of the best air quality levels for an interior space. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/2c272a305e3b1bf67ed74d24cd3906e3_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/42b8085ad955e1bf514943b14daa7dea_hd.jpg This diagam shows the exploded components of the kitchen and the black walnut box. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/8f41725539cae577aa4b2a46ed7b8150_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/82050e5ada4718f4a0c880b23b11ba86_hd.jpg A plan of the First Floor. The outdoor spaces are like extra rooms, with a fireplace at the SW corner of the building serving as a focal point for gathering. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/e76b62420e5436dde386957eed15a49a_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/2bf00fe51e19aef89e1b1c55ce732a9e_hd.jpg The black walnut box and kitchen in the closed configuration https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/99f98d99ca204e177038cf8502ba68c7_hd.jpg The plan shows the different ways that light is brought into the space. The Living Room island has multiple functions: it serves as a kitchen counter, a bar, a seating area, and an entertainment center. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/dec3e768c60d6d121f9213d45c9ce5f1_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/1ea49fbeb09922610f547dfb2b7577d1_hd.jpg Second Floor Plan. The southern bedrooms open up onto the second level of the Sunscreen, capitalizing on the southern view and providing extra space. The private spaces have been configured for maximum flexibility, with ample closets and bathrooms that are designed to be shared, so that the owners can comfortably bring guests or use the house as a vacation rental. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/4a70563f3344ed0bee5c7ac4a91ae5ac_hd.jpg The kitchen opens seamlessly into a Living/Dining Room https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/cec1b75a7e7bba8b53cc7cbfea42c281_hd.jpg Sliding doors can be used to change the configuration of the contiguous bathroom elements, allowing for flexible usage and multiple occupants. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/920c373a3c143dc2f711229beb205017_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/c08271dac29558e77feea5112ecacb92_hd.jpg The basic principle underlying the plan layout is a pinwheel. As illustrated in the above diagram, the fireplace serves as the focal point for the rotation of the spaces. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/dcabe53408526b8830e2c9d065368ed5_hd.jpg The modern aesthetic of the space is continued seamlessly through to the details, such as this custom radiator cover. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/743b50e5817ef3ad82fce5e58d891457_hd.jpg The skylight at the entry creates a focal point, and brings light into the foyer and hall. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/95ba89cd1ebe1613f49360c3567f622b_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/e3b8a5ae4d169519ba9ca6253abc4f25_hd.jpg The building was designed to be built in two phases. Phase 1 - pictured to the left - is planned to start construction this fall. Phase 2 - pictured right - is an addition to be built over the Patio/Garden area to the west. This would include a home office, an apartment for the client's mother, and a larger master suite. It also provides a large covered area underneath the Sunscreens, which can be screened in. Keeping future developments in mind was a challenge during the first phase of construction - many design decisions had to be tested twice to ensure that they would support both phases. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/b20811c344625b12514c08cd477740ae_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/039322bd90b346f305c4fe7ee2bcad69_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/c049ae6c5d9ff38e3807a613159b5d88_hd.jpg The interiors are simple, clean, and modern. The wrapping idea of the Sunscreen ribbons is carried into the interior - visible here in the countertop that wraps down the side of the island (left), or the wall partition (right) that wraps to become a light soffit over the curtainwall. The curtainwall creates permeability with the outdoor space, and the black columns of the Sunscreen structure echo the tall, thin trunks of the pine forest. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/c80edbe25bf8f3236278d925644a69fc_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/5557a22ce88ba64e746a9665d4c2a78b_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/9a66eac5651477a37b8370f7b571806a_hd.jpg The wall section incorporates a variety of thermal protection techniques, and is also designed to be extremely mold and moisture resistant. The rainscreen helps to protect the wind barrier from moisture collection, by wicking water away from the structure. The wind barrier (blue dotted line) is permeable only outward, allowing any moisture trapped within the wall to be released. The insulation itself is blown-in cellulose, which is completely recycled material with a high R-value, and which also is highly conductive of moisture - allowing any water within the walls to pass through quickly. The continuous air barrier (red dotted line) wraps within the insulative layer, protecting it from any humidity from within the house. The air barrier is a sophisticated material which allows water to pass through in different directions depending on the season. This protects both the interior spaces and the wall insulation from accumulating any moisture or mold. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/48c52dcac8d4aafd011041e1467dd5a1_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/e254b7ee9a5735c9863c7d817779b010_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/bc1f3a80eaac6de7590d2a0c6e0a1d92_hd.jpg A diagram showing the effect of the sunscreen at the summer and winter solstices. The walls are incredibly thick and of a highly sophisticated design, using cellulose insulation and a vapor-permeable air barrier to prevent thermal leaks. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/53169e043202592d1efcc06c4b8fb1c3_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/b50bf44173cbac50b91b40eb9e1280cd_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/8fc2d9bf7e19de43eebce1b443a82390_hd.jpg A winter view of the Living Room, in which the low angle of the sun floods the space with light and warmth. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/bcf414e3045b56052a8338fc24879703_hd.jpg https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/b1f41e0c5cfc835b5ad4b1b98cc623b4_hd.jpg The same view in the summer is completely shaded. A computer model of this building generated these renderings, using date/time information to verify these conditions. https://katewebb.viewbook.com/sustainability 2017-05-26 weekly 0.5 https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/be55eebf3b204b35d1b751bef48f4114_hd.jpg Kate Webb architect is committed to developing and implementing sustainable design strategies within their projects. Kate Webb is trained in a variety of sustainable building methods She is certified by the Passive House Institute in both Germany and the US, and is a LEED Accredited Professional. The Passive House strategy of building is focused on creating a highly energy-efficient structure. A Passive House gets its heat from the sun and the heat of its occupants. The diagram above shows the effect of the sunscreen at the summer and winter solstices: the higher angle of the summer sun is blocked by the screens, while the lower winter sun floods the space with light and warmth. The thick walls use cellulose insulation and a vapor-permeable air barrier to prevent thermal leaks. It is essentially a house which has no energy requirements for heating or cooling. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/f7bcc7c4f14eb073219fd83809a5b054_hd.jpg The wall section incorporates a variety of thermal protection techniques, and is also designed to be extremely mold and moisture resistant. The rainscreen helps to protect the wind barrier from moisture collection, by wicking water away from the structure. The wind barrier (blue dotted line) is permeable only outward, allowing any moisture trapped within the wall to be released. The insulation itself is blown-in cellulose, which is completely recycled material with a high R-value, and which also is highly conductive of moisture - allowing any water within the walls to pass through quickly. The continuous air barrier (red dotted line) wraps within the insulative layer, protecting it from any humidity from within the house. The air barrier is a sophisticated material which allows water to pass through in different directions depending on the season. This protects both the interior spaces and the wall insulation from accumulating any moisture or mold. https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/d15f10ab496f6f5b23a7ac759b5198d7_hd.jpg The HRV/ERV system is an essential element to Passive House Design. This system allows up to a 95% energy recovery from the interior conditioned air, allowing the interior temperature to remain stable. https://katewebb.viewbook.com/firm 2017-05-26 weekly 0.5 https://imageproxy.viewbook.com/3bbdc130ed682b2cd10fb47a79f2100f_hd.jpg Kate Webb architect, a New York practice, has been in existence in various forms since 1994, when Kate Webb opened her office. Kate Webb architect is a small design team, ensuring that the principle remains completely involved in all of the firm's work, which includes both commercial and residential projects. Kate Webb received an M.Arch. from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. After graduating, she worked on numerous projects for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics including the SOM/Gehry collaboration, and with Raphael Moneo. Qualifications: •M.Arch from Harvard •Certified Passive House Consultant •Certified Passive House Builder •LEED AP Contact: kate@katewebb.com