The Brady House is a 3,600 sq. ft. two story house, with a triple attached garage. It is a country house for an expanded family. In the summer the family of children and grandchildren is large; in the winter the Brady have the house to themselves. The interior living spaces are designed to be combined in summer and to flow to the outdoors.

From the east the house presents a grand aspect. It appears large and imposing- the stone terracing walls providing a strong horizontal podium. The western aspect sees the house across a wide meadow, tucked behind a field stone wall. From here it presents a diminshed form- a more intimate approach, buttoned down against winter winds and snow.

Solar orientation
The primary view is to the east, however, substantial window area admits winter sunshine directly into the living spaces.

The kitchen alcove roof is sloped at 45 degrees so that, in the future, it can have a solar/thermal water heater installed - piping is already in place.

Summer shading- winter sheltering
The house is sited east of an old field stone wall in which a number of large trees have grown. This situation creates an intimate entry transition after the driving across an open meadow. It also shades the hot westerly summer sun. The tree band, together with the garage to the north, shelter the house from the strong winter winds and drifting snow.

Thermal integrity
Though complex in form, the house was designed and constructed to a high standard of thermal efficiency. Wall cavities are packed with 8" of sprayed in cellulose insulation. Using a blower door, the building was tested to detect air leakage and ultimately to verify airtightness.

Fresh air
With such tight houses it is very important that a controlled ventilation system be installed. The Brady house has a central system that removes stale air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. Because the owner is a pipe smoker, the living room has a stale pick up with a boosting switch. After over a year of occupation, there is no lingering smell of tobacco smoke at all.

Sealed combustion
The primary living space has a large field stone fireplace which is fed directly from the exterior with a combustion air supply, and which is fitted with gas doors. As the fire dies down, the doors are closed and the noxious products of incomplete combustion are excluded from the house.

Radon proofing
Measures have been taken to forestall the entry of radon - a mildly radioactive soil gas linked to the cause of lung cancer - into the basement. The basement concrete slab rests on a 5" deep bed of stone. A plastic vent pipe exhausts the radon from below the slab to the outside atmosphere before it can seep into the living space.

Healthful living spaces
Beyond the installation of ventilation, and sealing combustion devices, modest effort has been given to select interior finish materials to eliminate adverse health. Most particularly, carpeting has been avoided in the primary living spaces and the bedroom - spaces where the occupants spend the bulk of their time. A central vacuum system enables cleaning to be done without undue dust generation.

Resource efficiency
Consideration has been given in the design and construction to limiting impact on natural resources and the environment. Insulation from recycled newspaper was used; roof and floor framing members are of engineered wood I-beams which make better use of the forest product.

Intimate scale and accessible entry
An unusual sill detail allows the first floor level to be close to grade. This, together with the broad, overhanging eaves, creates a more intimate scale on the approach side of the house. It also makes a more accessible entry.