Thursday, November 8, 2012

Haystack Base Lodge


The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain is a four-season private ski community and golf club set in the scenic Deerfield Valley in idyllic southern Vermont.

Founder and visionary, Jim Barnes, and Vice President, Bob Rubin, hired us and three additional entities to form a strong, mutually-reinforcing team to design a new luxury base lodge as the center of the resort.

We are working full steam ahead with our team members to fast track this project and meet the various deadlines on time and on budget.

East Perspective View

The 'ski-to' lower level includes a retail shop as well as a ski rental
and a storage facility. Ski valet service is provided on the main
level. Heated patios throughout provide safety and an added
element of comfort.


West Perspective View

Douglas Fir timber frame defines the structure inside and out.
Natural red cedar shingles clad the roof and walls, and window
walls with high efficiency  glass connect the inside to the outdoors.


West Patio Entrance

Under the 60-foot clocktower, the slopeside west patio forms
the main gathering place for ski-in-and-out activities. In the
next round of design development, this area will include
large circular fire pit.


Liftline View

On the ride up, the lift affords views of the base lodge and
beginner's slope complete with a magic carpet.


Main Dining Lounge

The main dining room lofts over 40 feet to the cupola above
and seats approximately 450 guests. Additional  dining rooms
will serve small parties for special occasions.


Large Four-Sided Fireplace

Members and their guests will be warmed by the innovative
fireplace that is open on all four sides.


Fireplace Lounge

A seating area in front of the fireplace creates a space to
warm up and relax after a day on the slopes.

North Locker Lounge

Providing the ultimate in convenience and comfort, the locker
lounge provides every membership with its own locker in one
of five locker lounges located throughout the base lodge.


Swimming Pool

The two-lane, heated, indoor swimming pool is the perfect place to
cool off after workout or massage in the adjacent fitness center,
yoga studio and spa.


Section of the Lobby

With the glass walls to the West and East, the Dining area creates 
the perfect place to meet for lunch and enjoy the view.




Recently, an expanded design plan was approved by the local
Development Review Board. As quoted in the Wednesday,
October 17 issue of the Brattleboro Reformer, Rubin said,
"The approval of this 90,000 square foot lodge is the capstone
to our recent permitting efforts."


Project Description

The new base lodge will nestle slope-side into Haystack Mountain, midway up the mountain. The stunning location will offer easy ski-
in, ski-out access to skiers and spectacular views of the mountain
and surrounding hills and peaks.
 
Featured amenities are to include gourmet fine dining, shopping,
ski valet, a state-of-the-art Spa and Wellness Center, a teen
center, ski school, and a day care center. In addition, there will be roughly 14,500 square feet of balconies, porches, and radiantly
heated stone patios.

The base lodge will contain four levels:

Bottom Basement Level
This area will faciliate shipping and receiving, and will include a mechanical room, a laundry room, a prep kitchen, and a teen
center with a movie theater, virtual bowling area, and a portion of the luxury spa.

Upper Basement Level
To be included on the upper underground level are a shopping area, a ski rental and demo center, a day care and ski school, ski tuning,
ski storage, lockers, and the rest of the luxury Spa and Wellness
center which features a two-lane lap pool and state-of-the-art
fitness equipment.

Ground Floor
The ground floor features the lobby and dining room area and
serving station, ski valet and ski storage, and the club's main
marketing and real estate sales offices. Small dining and function
rooms for private events will also be located on this level. 

The enormous four-sided fireplace will be the focal point in the
timber framed great room. Members will be able to enjoy views 
of the mountain and surrounding hills while relaxing fireside 
with a made-to-order latte.

Top Floor
The top floor has an open balcony as well as member ski storage.

The private club will have approximately 1,500 memberships. Each membership will have its own locker in one of five different locker rooms in the lodge. 

 Project Team
 
Austin Design inc - prime architect
John Guminak Design Services - designer
Harrington Engineering, Inc. - civil engineering
Colby Co. Engineering - structural, mechanical, electrical and civil engineering

Sustainability
 
We will be working closely with Efficiency Vermont to enhance the sustainability and energy efficiency of the building.

Ground source heat pumps will be used for the HVAC system, and 
there is an emphasis on indoor air quality.
 
Current Progress
 
August 2012 marked the groundbreaking. 
 
The plan is to move forward with the foundation, which will
support two underground levels constructed with steel; the ground and second stories will be timber framed with Douglas Fir.
 

Watch the Progress
 
Follow the on-site progress with the Club's webcam and watch the
"time lapse" at the job site.

Future Plans

The base lodge is designed to serve the heart of the private 
community as it develops. 
 
The new base lodge is the first phase of several proposed buildings which are to include a hotel, condos, timeshare townhouses, and single-family homes. A water park designed for summertime family fun may be included in the future.
 
Completion Date
 
The new base lodge is scheduled to complete in time for the 2013/
2014 ski season.

The Hermitage Base Lodge will soon join the existing 
Hermitage Inn and Hermitage Golf Club to create a unique, full-service experience for private club members.

Snow & Ski Conditions
 
Snowmaking is often essential here on the east coast. 

Tower mount snow guns provide drier, lighter snow coverage 
for Haystack Mountain. 

For more details, follow this link.

Access to the Base Lodge
The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain is accessible by 
automobile, plane, and helicopter. 

The property is located within close proximity of northeastern metropolitan areas including Boston and New York, as well as New Jersey.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

ADI Welcomes Tom Chalmers













We welcome on board Tom Chalmers, AIA, an architect in Massachusetts with over 20 years’ experience in all aspects of the design and construction of institutional and residential projects.

Tom’s institutional work has primarily been in the area of renovations to inner city public schools. His residential work has focused on providing quality planning and detailing for homeowners where function, energy efficiency and budget are paramount, primarily through additions and renovations.

He has worked in a small firm, with a partner and a number of employees, and for the last ten years on his own with employees and associates as opportunities arose.

Tom joins us at a crucial juncture in time. With the spring of 2012, several new projects have come to us which require the skills and expertise of a well-rounded team. Our current projects include the design of a new ski resort base lodge in Vermont, a local near zero net energy house, and two sustainable homes located in Oregon. Tom’s strengths in project management and design will provide our architecture office with the talent needed to complete these projects skillfully and successfully.










Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Murphy Residence - Small Home Design















Steady progress is being made on the construction of a small home renovation project on Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont.

Bill designed a seasonal lakefront house for friends KC and Ralph Murphy of western Massachusetts, who continue to send us wonderful updates and photography of the construction in progress. The renovation got underway last year and will complete in time for enjoying a full summer of fun and tranquility this year in the Green Mountain State!

Cottage on a lake















Coming along nicely














Kitchen with water views














Warm, wooded interiors















Upstairs landing














Glassed-in porch, first floor

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Murphy Residence - Small House Design















We appreciate friends KC and Ralph Murphy continuing to keep us abreast of the exciting renovations and rebuild of their lakefront cottage in Burlington, Vermont!

We last posted photos on November 21, 2011 and are glad to see the steady and great looking progress.















The front facade under construction



















View of gabled end
















Moving into the interior, we see large windows and wall insulation made of fiberglass batts.

Not intended or designed for year round use, the home is the perfect destination for vacations from early springtime through late autumn.















Curved, beadboard ceiling detail















A view of the home's stick framing, insulation, and electrical circuits














A view of the living room and the multi-season porch from the kitchen















From the living room we see the porch on the left, and the kitchen in the background














View of the living room and stairs to the second floor master suite and guest bedroom


















Master bathroom














Master bedroom














The cottage enjoys beautiful views of mountains and Lake Champlain.














Lake Champlain and surrounding hills and mountains

Austin Design inc represents at AIA Grassroots 2012 conference in Washington DC


Austin Design inc architect Chris Farley is attending this year's AIA Grassroots convention in Washington DC this week as president-elect of the Western Massachusetts chapter of the American Institute of Architects (WMAIA).

From the convention website:

"This annual meeting offers opportunities for leaders from nearly 280 state and local chapters to exchange programs, best practices, and share and discuss information and challenges that relate to their experiences."

Have a great trip Chris.




Thursday, February 16, 2012

PinkCloud.DK Plans to Transform Oil Refineries into Giant Energy Positive Communities












Interested in a future home that is energy-efficient, airtight, waterproof, and structurally bulletproof? PinkCloud.DK thinks so. To read more about this design, follow the link below:

http://inhabitat.com/pinkcloud-dk-transforms-oil-refineries-into-giant-energy-positive-communities/




Wednesday, February 8, 2012

A Tale of Two Realities

In his essay, A Tale of Two Realities, Bill relates his, and wife Joan Rockwell's, experiences as they traveled to Nova Scotia and Haiti, in June and November 2011, respectively.

Briefly, Bill and Joan ventured to Nova Scotia for a rewarding conference with peers in architecture and landscape architecture.  Five months later, they were off to Haiti with Marky Jean-Pierre of the Honor for Haiti Foundation (FONHOH) to visit the country and the site of a proposed educational complex in the rural region of Lagoun. This experience was eye-opening and soul-moving, and has further inspired and motivated Bill and Joan to work toward the creation of positive change in the U.S. and abroad.

Enjoy reading.

Photos of the two trips follow below, along with conceptual drawings for the Lagoun-based education center:

Haiti - Bird's eye view of the Lagoun site



Haiti - Site view key plan


Haiti - Eye-level view from roof deck


Haiti - A neighbor's farmhouse


Nova Scotia - Historic Lunenberg


Nova Scotia - Historic Lunenberg


Haiti - Local chairmaker's house


Haiti - Neighbors and future students


Haiti - Neighbors and future students


Nova Scotia - One of the many Brian MacKay-Lyons houses visible around Shobac. They have been compared to vernacular barns, bobbing shipping containers or breaching whales.


Nova Scotia - One of two observatory towers built at Shobac during a previous Ghost Lab


Haiti - Roadside vendors


Haiti - Rural village streetlife


Nova Scotia - Shobac is available to rent for conferences. Below are the barn, cottages and conference building.


Nova Scotia - Stutchbury, Murcott, Frampton & Pallasmaa. Photo by Marcus Gleysteen.


Haiti - The founders of FONHOH and Joan


Nova Scotia - The octagonal barn where the lectures were held. A previous Ghost Lab deconstructed it and reassembled it at Shobac.


Haiti - The old school on the site


Nova Scotia - The octagonal dining tents plated well against the barn


Haiti - View from the school site


Haiti - View from the school site


Haiti - View from the school site