Fallingwater on - Site Cottages Competition proposal / Wendell Burnette Architects 28 May 2010 By Sebastian J — Filed under : Housing , Pennsylvania , USA , Wendell Burnette Architects A couple of days ago we featured Saucier + Perrotte ’ s proposal for the Fallingwater on - Site Cottages Competition in Mill Run , Pennsylvania , USA . Today , Wendell Burnette Architects | Michael Boucher Landscape Architecture shared with us their proposal , which received second place . More images and architect ’ s description after the break . Our proposal for the fallingwater cottages is about receding into the edge condition between forest and field . It is against object architecture and instead is for an architecture that fosters authentic experience of place . Cottages are sited out of the field as was the Kirkpatrick House , which respected the field as a working farm and the ecotone or “ edge community ” as a refuge of shade and as a place of prospect . Our response to the broad regional initiative to reforest fields is to do so only in select areas that maintain the agricultural authenticity of the field landscape . We support re - establishing the historic access way with a straight farm road from the highway buildings along the edge of the old farm and aligned with a smaller sunset field / reforested edge . At the intersection of fields one turns a sharp corner and the much larger Kirkpatrick Field spreads out to the south and over the horizon to the west . Precisely at the point of greatest prospect where the field rolls down and outward toward an expansive view across the accordant summits of the allegheny mountain range – sits the Kirkpatrick House . We propose to reinforce its ’ role as the educational outreach hub by focusing existing buildings , orchard , arbor , and drives around a quad or event field , which also aggregates autos to the north field edge preserving and reinforcing its ’ most significant aspect . The cottages are embedded in the shady south field edge opposite the Kirkpatrick House . The daily traversing of the field between community and the individual / group is a central part of our concept . The field and forest edges that define and extend it out through the grand view window to the west are each ever changing at micro / macro scales . A slow walk across the field is perhaps the most memorable experience you take with you . The cottages are both threshold and fulcrum between field and forest . Stones from the field edge serve as a stepping - stone onto a simple timber plank that extends the plane of the field into the forest , which combines with the canopy of the ecotone forest to create a threshold . The solid timber cabin is choreographed as an instrument of experience to extend one into the oak - hickory forest , its dappled light and shade , its omni - present textures , its sounds , and its cooler environs – along the way elevating one slightly above the forest floor and capturing the long - view over the field ridgeline . Their long e - w form and turned solar orientation follows fallingwater and the old Kaufmann Dairy Barn to capture the morning sun ( as many FLLW ’ s buildings do ) , while opening all private and public spaces to the grand view to the west / northwest under the protective shade of the forest edge . Strategically placed cross - ventilation doors and windows designed for use in rain or shine harness natural convection currents that pull cooler air from bear run ( and lower points beyond ) up the south slope through the long cabin out toward the field that superheats in the summer creating a thermal siphon . The natural cooling effects of shade and evapotranspiration provided by the forest are utilized in lieu of additive architectural devices such as overhangs and shade louvers . The wood cabins are not an abstraction of the forest they are constructed of the forest . They are designed to tell the story of this oak - hickory forest through the sheer weight , finesse and tactility of its ’ materiality as well as the human story of this region through its ’ craft and making . We propose that a monoculture of spruce could be harvested by one of the local timber mills and milled to specification for each cabin ’ s structure and thermal envelope requirements . The main structure could possibly be erected in conjunction with architecture design - build programs directed by amish master woodworkers nearby or by them exclusively . Solid timber construction is a single - stroke solution for structure , exterior and interior finish , and a thermal envelope that controls room temperature and regulates humidity . It also acts as a long - term carbon store with a smaller carbon footprint than any other local material we could use . The long narrow form allows it to be threaded between the existing trees such that no tree is cut . 8 - 10 screw pile or hand dug foundations minimize disturbance of the forest floor while supporting a level platform from which to build this simple structure of prefabricated componentized parts . The construction site is designed to be an assembly site of parts in lieu of conventional “ layered construction ” to minimize site time , site disturbance and hold total construction costs at he 150 - 200 SF budget . LEED Platinum is an attainable and realistic goal with our design approach and the anticipated tie - in to the existing zero - discharge wastewater reclamation system . A ground supported photovoltaic array extending the east end of the orchard could incrementally provide power for all six cabins as they are built out . The 633 NSF cabin can sleep one to ten ; an individual , a couple , a family , or a group i . e . one professor ( chaperon ) in the private bedroom and eight students along the public edge “ hostel style ” while still feeling like an intimate cottage or home in any situation . The rich gravitas of the forest will be felt from the moment one steps onto the solid massive plank – akin to walking upon a fallen tree as a child – to the moment when one closes a beautifully crafted cedar - lined chestnut - faced drawer tested over time to perfectly suit its ’ function . The plank organizes the public program along its edges around the private / servant program , which withholds the grand view until precisely the point it can be attained over the field ridgeline under the protective shade of he forest edge . This public edge on two of three sides is open to the oak - hickory forest and receives the dappled sunlight streaking through its ’ canopy . All spaces benefit from this light and carefully considered cross - ventilation even during the frequent rain greatly reducing reliance on energy . The main living space can be thought of as an under - cover exterior screened terrace – balcony when the large window is opened toward the forest floor topping as a guardrail . Other finer things that the hand touches with the eye and the hand would celebrate the hardwoods abundant in the area ; hickory , silver and red maple , white , red and chestnut oak . More specialty items such as steel , metal , and glass will come only as far away as Pittsburgh . Additionally , we propose to finish the spruce utilizing the ancient Japanese tradition of charring boards , which provides protection against water , insects , and fire . The silvery - black charred wood boards will recede into the forest shadows and further presence the dappled light and textures of the forest , the grand view , and the finer warm woods . Details like : firewood storage , a mud room entry with a walk - off grating that drains plus an ample closet for group coats / shoes , a writing desk with a view , a ventilating skylight above your sleeping head to view trees / sky / stars , a private toilet separate from private bath , lounge spaces along the public edge double as sleeping berths and luggage storage for eight , are all carefully integrated and considered . Fallingwater is famous because the house in its setting embodies a powerful ideal – that people today can learn to live in harmony with nature … . . As technology uses more and more natural resources , as the world ’ s population grows even larger , harmony with nature is necessary for the very existence of mankind . Edgar Kaufmann , Jr . , 1978 . The scholar cottages have the unique opportunity – as an extension of educational outreach programs – to compliment the “ Powerful ideal ” Edgar Kaufmann , Jr . espoused , s imilar to wright ’ s “ Usonia No . 1 ”