WP_Post Object
(
[ID] => 4943
[post_author] => 4
[post_date] => 2015-08-06 10:56:56
[post_date_gmt] => 2015-08-06 14:56:56
[post_content] => Project: Trees on the Roof
Architects: Meditch Murphey Architects
General Contractor: Design/Build
Location: D.C. Area
Style: Modern, Sustainable, Residential-Home Office
Product Integration: The Bark House® at Highland Craftsmen Inc® Poplar Panels | Exterior and Interior
Project Awards: Washingtonian Award | Washington, DC Chapter of the AIA | Tree House, Washington DC | AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Awards 2014
Magazine Articles: Architecture DC, Summer 2015 (view pdf version) | ARCHITECT, the Journal of the American Institute of Architects
Photo Credit: © 2014 Meditch Murphey Architects
Marcie Meditch, AIA and John Dennis Murphey, AIA form the husband and wife team of Meditch Murphey Architects. They are avid travelers and nature lovers.
Project Goals: Shared home and office space. Seamless connection to nature. Use of sustainable materials and techniques. Employing a restrained pallet.
Inspiration for use of bark panels came from Bark House® products used on the Appalachian State University (Award Winning for Best in Design), Solar Decathlon House.
Question Responses Provided By: Marcie Meditch, AIA
How have the Architect/ Owners and others responded to the bark panels?
When guests arrive at the house, they are greeted with the bark as it wraps around the building along the entry ramp. Almost invariably, the first thing they ask is, “What is this? Is this real bark?”, to which they exclaim, “Wow!” after the affirmative answer. Everyone is fascinated with it. Drawn by curiosity, they feel compelled to touch it.
What attracted the team to use the product?
We first saw the bark shingles used in the Solar Homestead house by Appalachian State for the Solar Decathlon. It's such an unusual and beautiful product. We liked its environmental qualities and had to use it.
What was installation like?
Installation was relatively easy. Because we were using flat panels instead of the shingles on the outside, we worked out the details with the people at Bark House and haven’t had any issues yet.
How have the panels performed?
Performance has been excellent. The exterior panels are in great shape.
Any other details about project intent and product integration?
We like clean lines and a modern aesthetic, but we also like warm spaces with natural texture and color. The bark ends at either a white stucco wall or a white interior wall, so the contrast highlights and celebrates the textural qualities of the bark. It becomes visual wallpaper – a natural material in abstract form. The walls are mesmerizing, a real showpiece!
How did the panels match the project's overall goals?
We struggled finding the right material for the entry and kept changing it throughout the design phase and even after construction had begun. At first it was stucco, then tile, then ipe slats, but nothing seemed quite right. Then we discovered the bark siding and knew we found the perfect fit. The wall at the entry starts with a generous curve. As you go up the ramp and turn the corner, the wall curves again, but this time at a smaller radius. As you enter the house, the bark continues and the smallest curve turns the corner that leads into the living room and kitchen space. It was easy to bend the bark since it naturally wants to curve anyway. Given the properties of the bark, it provided a seamless look that brought nature inside the house and strengthened the connection between indoor and outdoors.
_______________________________________
If you liked this post, you can stay up to date by signing up for our monthly newsletter in the box at the bottom of this page or share it with others using the buttons below
_______________________________________
[post_title] => POSITIONED AMONG TREES
[post_excerpt] =>
[post_status] => publish
[comment_status] => closed
[ping_status] => open
[post_password] =>
[post_name] => positioned-among-trees
[to_ping] =>
[pinged] => https://barkhouse.com/products/poplar-bark-panels/
https://barkhouse.com/news/
[post_modified] => 2017-06-15 14:23:50
[post_modified_gmt] => 2017-06-15 18:23:50
[post_content_filtered] =>
[post_parent] => 0
[guid] => https://barkhouse.wpengine.com/?p=4943
[menu_order] => 0
[post_type] => post
[post_mime_type] =>
[comment_count] => 0
[filter] => raw
)
Designing a Business – Inspired By Nature Part 3
Home > Designing a Business – Inspired By Nature Part 3 Water Stewardship No water is used in the manufacturing of Bark House® Poplar Bark Shingles and Wall Coverings. This is a big deal given that the Industry sector uses 5% of US fresh-water according to the EPA and the manufacturing of wood is a major part of that. The US Department of Interior Geological Survey website … Continued
Clean Energy and Carbon Management 100% of the electricity used in the manufacturing of Bark House® Poplar Shingles and Wall Coverings is renewable solar power, generated at this facility. 90% of the materials are sourced within 50 miles and 100% within 500 miles. Bark House manufacturing methods are clean and rely heavily on fine hand-crafting. … Continued
Since Conservation began in the U.S. in the mid 1800s there has been an ongoing debate about Forest preservation, conservation and utilization. Scientific Forest management policy led the early conservation movement with the goal to protect natural resources including animal and plant species, to minimize soil erosion and ensure the quality of water and air … Continued
Healthy Buildings Start with Pure Materials – Sourced and Manufactured Responsibly Cradle To Cradle Material Health PLATINUM Certificate Products with the Bark House® brand have been designed following nature’s inspiration since company inception in 1990. Bark House® Poplar Shingles and Wall Coverings are 100% natural and pass California Air Quality VOC Standards. The bark of … Continued
There are 58 national parks in the National Park Service and you will LOVE how you feel when you visit any one of them. 2016 marks the 100th Anniversary of the National Parks Service in the United States. The federal law that established the NPS is the Organic Act of 1916. During times of great … Continued
It had been a long time since I last visited with my old friend and colleague, Nan Chase, author of this article. We first met when she was living in Boone and I was in Blowing Rock. Two Type A’s, we quickly fell into a feverish pace of working together. Months after Bark House Style was … Continued
“Our capacity to journey well determines our destination.” Chris McCurry · Co-Owner -The Bark House® A numeric “25” is an unbiased witness to the anniversary of big dreams built from humble beginnings. As we look back, we do so with great gratitude for the relationships that have touched us during this journey – the ones … Continued
William McDonough, the Founder of Cradle to Cradle had this to say about Highland Craftsmen back in 2011: “If you look at what’s going on at Highland Craftsmen… you are looking at a product that is almost a sacred thing…. People are being honored with jobs, forests are being honored with sustainable forestry, and the … Continued
part 2 of 2 Vincent Stanley from Patagonia met with a group of B Corps in Asheville, NC in September. The conversation centered on responsible companies, which echoes the title of his and Yvon Chouinard’s (Founder and Owner of Patagonia) book. One of the opening quotes shared by Vincent was from writer Norman Maclean … Continued
Project: Trees on the Roof Architects: Meditch Murphey Architects General Contractor: Design/Build Location: D.C. Area Style: Modern, Sustainable, Residential-Home Office Product Integration: The Bark House® at Highland Craftsmen Inc® Poplar Panels | Exterior and Interior Project Awards: Washingtonian Award | Washington, DC Chapter of the AIA | Tree House, Washington DC | AIA Maryland Excellence in Design Awards 2014 Magazine Articles: Architecture … Continued
