David Jay Weiner, Architects, P.C.

Zen Garden House

ZEN GARDEN HOUSE

David Jay Weiner

Zen Garden House
© Bill Ellzey

ARCHITECTS
David Jay Weiner

CONTRACTOR
Keith Teahen Construction

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Robert Silman Associates, P.C.

PHOTOGRAPHS
Bill Ellzey

LOCATION
United States

CATEGORY
Houses

Zen Garden House
© Bill Ellzey
Zen Garden House
© Bill Ellzey

This project is a response to a client’s desire to build a small retreat in the high dessert of the San Luis Valley (elevation +8,500 ft.) with stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Great Sand Dunes National Monument.

The area is known for its serenity and environmental uniqueness. The house is designed to not only respond to that environment but also to take advantage of the unique spirituality of the site.

Zen Garden House
© Bill Ellzey
Zen Garden House
© Bill Ellzey

The house is conceived as a single volumetric enclosure that wraps and folds around itself to form and define three major interior spaces and tie the house to the landscape.

The primary interior space is used for living, dining and cooking. The two other spaces flanking the primary space serve as master bedroom suite and a traditional tatami mat meditation space adjacent to an outdoor room that is used as a Zen meditation rock garden.

Zen Garden House
© Bill Ellzey
Zen Garden House
© Bill Ellzey

Large areas of glass are used to capture the views, allow for passive solar orientation and blur the distinction between inside and outside. The house is designed to be relatively inexpensive both in construction and maintenance.

As the property is remote and off-the-grid system and, having more than 300 sun days per year, the 1,600 sq. ft. house is powered with a solar energy photovoltaic system. The seven-acre site has been left undisturbed to the fullest extent possible.

Zen Garden House
© Bill Ellzey
Zen Garden House
© Bill Ellzey


Zen Garden House
Site Plan
Zen Garden House
Plan


Zen Garden House
Model 01
Zen Garden House
Model 02

David Jay Weiner, Architects, P.C.
T +1 212 6964345
David Jay Weiner, Architects, P.C.
425 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10016, United States