New England is populated with numerous examples of colonial-era structures that have endured for 200 to 300 years. Studio Whitehorse seeks to answer the question of how this typology can be updated and improved for the modern era. Based around the North American Passive House standard for energy efficiency, healthy living and resiliency in a four-season climate, this office, meditation space and music studio space over a partially-buried two-car garage seeks to answer that question.

Starting from a simple form reminiscent of the traditional vernacular of the Cape Cod house, the studio is a celebration of local and natural materials selected for their durability and endurance on a site often facing the brunt of seasonal Atlantic storms. A deliberate process of selection led to the specification of interior materials and systems intended for the comfort and health of those inside, including super-insulated wall assemblies, triple-glazed windows and an air-source heat pump. An ERV and a complete elimination of toxic materials were deliberate choices made to maintain indoor air quality. Environmental impact was considered throughout, focusing on natural materials with low embodied energy or carbon sequestration.