International Specialties, Inc. SPECIALIZING IN DIRECT MILL CONTAINER & TRUCK LOAD QUANTITY SHIPMENTS PROJECT: WOOD:
Syncline House
OFFERING
Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata)
Lumber, Decking, Edge Glued Panels and Solid Wood Components
Arch11 Ken Andrews | Project Manager & Project Architect
CR E ATOR S :
EJ Meade | Principal in Charge Claire Jordan | Design Associate
S
ituated at the fold between the Rocky Mountain foothills and the Great Plains, the house mediates horizons and peaks, city and alpine meadows. Conceived as a frame for viewing the landscape, Boulder, Colorado-based firm Arch11 meticulously modeled the residence within the site to ensure that planes of glass capture ridge top views while respecting the city’s height restrictions. Built with innovative renewable energy systems and materials crafted to last centuries, the house is a model of cuttingedge sustainable design and achieved a LEED gold certification. “For us the first principle of practice is to do the right thing for the environment: sustainability, functionality and durability,” says Ken Andrews, project manager for the home, which was awarded the AIA Colorado Merit Award in 2010. “We started looking at jarrah because of its amazing durability, which is important in Boulder’s climate.
It’s arid here, and the temperature swings between extremes.” The design team began investigating jarrah sourced from Australia for the exterior applications and discovered that it is a very sustainable, fast growing species. “It got us thinking how we could use it in the house beyond the exterior siding, fencing and decking that we originally specified,” says Andrews. “We found the species as veneer and flooring, so we wound up using it for the interior wood flooring, the stair treads and all the interior cabinetry except for the kitchen, where there is walnut.” “If you look at the elevation of the house from the outside it is clad in jarrah, so from an architectural concept point of view it is almost like occupying a jarrah box then walking on a jarrah floor.” Materially the house was conceived as a stack of three materials, stucco and stone on the ground, wood volume on the second level and an ash roof plane. “The wood became a very big part of the house in terms of how we grounded the second floor,” says Andrews. Roof gardens allow the land to literally envelope the house, and expansive, retracting glass walls provide full views of the Flatirons to the west while connecting interiors with outdoor rooms. Executed with uncompromising detail, surfaces meet with quiet precision to create a serene background for the landscape and mountains beyond. ■
With more than 35 years of experience in the international wood and wood products trade, we use our vast experience and knowledge to match customer’s needs with producer’s capabilities. We design and implement supply programs to answer customers’ needs.
From Balsa wood to Ironwood and most species in between.
SW-COC-910 ©1996 FSC Responsible Forest Management
TEL: (901)
853-4620 • FAX: (901) 221-0057 TWilson16@aol.com www.intlspecialties.com INTERNATIONAL WOOD
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