A Look into The Lodge Project

Perched on a ledge overlooking the Paunnacussing Creek in Solebury Township, PA, The Lodge is a new construction residential project crafted to take full advantage of the site’s spectacular topography, wooded privacy and natural views.  With a blend of old and new worlds, The Lodge was designed to integrate traditional exterior features with uncompromisingly modern interiors.  Completed in 2016, the work consists of a 5,000SF four-bedroom main residence and a 2,100SF garage and loft space.  These two buildings are connected by a covered walkway and accentuated with intimate, tree-lined courtyards.

A Modern Home with Traditional Framework

Given its location in a historic area of Bucks County close to the Delaware River, the owners expressed a desire to respect the surrounding vernacular architecture.  Considering this, a key challenge confronting the design team was the desire to create a modern, dynamic, and functional space within a traditional framework. 

At the beginning of the design process there was a commitment to rigorously adhere to a traditional and authentic material palette for both exterior cladding and interior finishes.  The exterior form borrows elements of a traditional Quaker meeting house, including its simple gable form, wood lap siding, regular window spacing arrangement, and cedar shake roofing.

In contrast to this, the design team juxtaposed a modern plan arrangement in which circulation through the enfilade of rooms is located along the perimeters, resulting in uncluttered exterior walls and more focused, intimate spaces within the centers of each room. 

Interiors are finished with a substantial use of milled and dried oak, such as shiplap cladded walls and ceilings, clear finished plank flooring, and exposed hand-cut joists.  The traditional expression of functional brackets and hardware is reinterpreted by the designers on a larger scale with exposed blackened steel beams and angle connection plates. 

Skraffino micro-cement toppings are utilized to provide textured, fire-resistant surfaces at the various fireplaces throughout the house.  The interior design, including all furnishings, lighting, textiles and artwork, was carefully selected by the team to provide a complete, comprehensive design.

To complement the interior spaces, expansive outdoor living and entertainment spaces are defined by the placement of trees, terraces, wood fencing and natural stone retaining walls, resulting in a distinctive and timeless design.