On the shores of Halibut Point, overlooking the North Atlantic, Ruhl | Jahnes has completed a glass fronted home whose modernist design is a formal response to the rugged nature of the site and the challenges it may face through climate change. Designed in close collaboration with the local Conservation Commission, the net-zero building exceeds FEMA regulations and was designed to produce as much electricity as it uses over the course of a year.
Site integration
The house is lifted above a coastal site classified as a velocity flood zone—a high-risk area exposed to fast-moving storm surges and damaging wave action—requiring elevation and flood-resistant design. Ruhl | Jahnes use the steeply sloped site to their advantage, raising the main living spaces to meet these requirements while capturing unobstructed ocean views beyond neighbouring homes.
Floorplan
The L-shaped house is split across two levels and centered upon a large central volume that houses an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area. From here, the ocean is visible through floor to ceiling glazing. Bedrooms occupy more private areas in the wing and the ground floor, which also features a 1000 square foot open-air porch that doubles the living space in good weather, and—crucially—is designed to “take a beating in winter Nor’easters,” the architects say. “We were determined to avoid the blasting that is common in this part of the country, and the open air lower living space was built around a collage of enormous rock ledges.”
Accessibility
The is completely accessible: there are no steps necessary to enter the house and the majority of living spaces are on a single main floor accessible directly from the entry via an interior ramp and all bathrooms are completed with fully accessible curb-free showers.
Energy system
The house achieves net zero energy performance through a 12 kW south-facing rooftop photovoltaic system that produces more electricity annually than it consumes. By relying on on-site renewable generation and exporting surplus clean energy to the grid, the building offsets its operational electricity demand over the course of a year, reducing dependence on fossil-fuel-based power and significantly lowering its overall environmental impact.
Heating and cooling
Mechanical systems are designed to minimise operational energy demand. High-efficiency air-source heat pumps provide heating and cooling with reduced electricity use, while a heat recovery ventilation system retains thermal energy from exhaust air during continuous fresh-air exchange. Together with high-performance glazing and skylights that limit heat loss through the envelope, these systems reduce overall heating loads in the exposed coastal climate and support the building’s net-zero performance.
