He gestures to the firm’s most recent project —the one hovering on piers above the protected ecosystem. It’s built using a Japanese technique called shou sugi ban, which preserves wood by charring it. “We chose it because it lasts 200 years, needs little maintenance, and repels bugs and weather,” Ross says. “But there’s a bear who thinks it’s a tree. So we’ve had to replace some panels already.” He laughs, but doesn’t dismiss it. “There’s a lesson in that: You can plan for everything and still get surprised. You just have to stay adaptable.” The home is rotated five degrees for optimal winter solar gain. It uses passive techniques to reduce mechanical cooling and heating. And it was made possible by a client who, as Ross notes, “walks the walk.” “He doesn’t own a car. He bikes everywhere. He wanted small rooms. He let us push boundaries.”
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