{"id":564798,"date":"2026-03-27T17:40:16","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T17:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/564798\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T17:40:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T17:40:16","slug":"workac-turns-floodplain-constraints-into-elevated-domestic-model","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/564798\/","title":{"rendered":"WORKac turns floodplain constraints into elevated domestic model"},"content":{"rendered":"

workac combines passive performance with expressive form<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

WORKac<\/a>\u2018s Riverhouse in Hopkinton, Rhode Island<\/a>, turns floodplain constraints into a defining architectural gesture that merges climate resilience with spatial clarity and formal precision. The project is conceived as a compact, elevated volume defined by a faceted blue metal roof <\/a>that folds inward to carve out a central courtyard<\/a>. Conceived to meet Passive House<\/a> standards, the residence<\/a> is raised above the ground in response to floodplain conditions. The timber-clad<\/a> base supports a sharply articulated upper shell, where integrated solar panels<\/a> and precise openings give the house a clear, almost graphic presence within its wooded setting.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Replacing a weathered rural retreat, the compact structure<\/a> rises above the ground to meet regulatory requirements. Its lifted volume frames long views across the site and redefines the relationship between house and terrain, positioning elevation as a spatial strategy.<\/p>\n

\"WORKac
all images by Bruce Damonte<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

sculpted spatial system shaped by light defines the riverhouse<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Led by Amale Andraos and Dan Wood, the team<\/a> at WORKac embeds environmental performance into the core of the house. Triple-glazed windows, photovoltaic panels paired with on-site battery storage, and 35-centimeter insulated walls support a fully electric, year-round operation. Rather than defaulting to the neutrality often associated with high-performance buildings, the project embraces contrast and expression, using color, texture, and material variation to reflect the tones of its surroundings.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

This sculpted envelope operates as more than a formal gesture, organizing the house around a sequence of inward and outward views. The angular geometry of the roof pulls light into the central void while maintaining a compact footprint, allowing the interior to expand through section, while the courtyard introduces a protected outdoor room at the center of the dwelling.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Throughout the house, architecture unfolds as a collaborative field. A custom dining table by MOS Architects anchors the central space, operating simultaneously as structure, furniture, and social condenser. A large, theatrical curtain by Petra Blaisse spans the living room, modulating light and privacy while introducing seasonal variability. In the bedrooms, linen curtains by Aust\u0117ja Walter soften the interiors, while tiles developed with Karim Chaya bring in patterns rooted in Lebanese craft traditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"WORKac
faceted blue roof integrates solar panels within its sculpted geometry<\/p>\n

\"WORKac
living area opens to the landscape through large glazed openings<\/p>\n

\"WORKac
central dining space features custom furniture and a large curtain that modulates light<\/p>\n

\"WORKac
kitchen and dining area extend toward the outdoors<\/p>\n

\"WORKac
color and light shape movement through the house<\/p>\n

\"WORKac
patterned tiles and bold color clad the bathroom<\/p>\n

\"WORKac
nestled within dense woodland along the river<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

project info:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

name: Riverhouse<\/p>\n

architect: WORKac<\/a> | @work.ac<\/a><\/p>\n

location: Hopkinton, Rhode Island, US<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

principals: Amale Andraos + Dan Wood<\/p>\n

project architects: Kristina Dittrich, Matt Voss<\/p>\n

team: Reuben Cheeks, Din Din, Ryan Fagrie, Jenna Hussain, Madha Nawal, Smiley Scott, Rondela Spooner, Henry Wotowicz, Men Yushan<\/p>\n

contractor: Alan Hill and Eze Bongo R&R<\/p>\n

MEP, passive house + sustainability: Jordan Goldman, Zero Energy Design<\/p>\n

landscape architecture: Anne Penniman Associates, Golden Root Inc.<\/p>\n

lighting: Tillotson Design Associates<\/p>\n

structural: Augeri Engineering<\/p>\n

concrete: Cagin Concrete<\/p>\n

electricians: Bruce Kenyon, Kurt Holman<\/p>\n

excavation + civil: David Benn<\/p>\n

metal cladding + roofing: Jason Senior<\/p>\n

plumbing: Ron Zanella<\/p>\n

pool: Chuck NeJame, Pools RI<\/p>\n

masonry: Gary Williams<\/p>\n