Brick House by Birdseye

Vermont

By RECORD Editors

Photo © Younes Bounhar/Doublespace
Brick House by Birdseye

Architects & Firms

Birdseye

Location: Vermont
Project size: 8,000 square feet

Program: Brick House is a private residence and guest house in southern Vermont that is thoughtfully sited on existing agricultural land. Three gabled volumes clad in clay tiles and weathering steel frame a courtyard that extends living and gathering spaces outdoors. The program includes a main level with a kitchen, pantry, dining and sitting rooms, mudroom, garage, and support spaces, while the upper levels accommodate a primary suite, two en suite bedrooms, sitting areas, porch, laundry, and storage.

Photo © Younes Bounhar/Doublespace

Design Solution: Brick House is a zero-carbon residence and guest house that reinterprets the enduring character of Vermont’s historic architecture. Inspired by a neighboring 1816 federal-style brick house, the project translates traditional material and craftsmanship into a contemporary architectural expression composed of three gabled volumes clad in hand-molded Danish clay tiles with weathering steel accents. The main house and guest house are arranged in a C-shaped configuration to create a sheltered courtyard. Outdoor dining, seating, a built-in barbecue, and a firepit foster gathering and connection, while covered terraces beneath metal overhangs provide year-round comfort and reveal the expressive underside of the clay tile system.

Interior spaces are organized around a custom oak staircase and a two-sided hand-molded brick fireplace. White oak flooring, lime-plaster walls, custom millwork, and a vaulted oak-clad great room establish a warm, restrained palette that emphasizes natural materials and craftsmanship. Universal accessibility is integrated throughout, with an elevator serving all levels of the home.

The all-electric home is powered by a photovoltaic array and features a high-performance enclosure with triple-pane glazing, continuous insulation, ventilated rainscreens, and exceptional airtightness. Low-carbon materials, balanced ventilation, humidity control, and low-VOC finishes support long-term health, durability, and environmental stewardship.

Photo © Younes Bounhar/Doublespace

Structure and Materials: Brick House features a steel frame with conventional wood-framed infill, complemented by wood trussed floor and roof systems. Exposed steel lattice elements celebrate the brick installation, adding depth and visual interest to the facade. The combination of brick and steel creates a timeless, stately character while providing exceptional durability and longevity. These resilient materials require minimal maintenance, ensuring the home’s architectural integrity and performance endure for generations.

Additional Information
Completion date: September 2025
Site size: 10 acres
Total construction cost: Withheld
Client/Owner: Withheld

Photos © Younes Bounhar/Doublespace

Images courtesy Birdseye, click to enlarge

Credits

Architect
Birdseye
3104 Huntington Road
Richmond Vermont 05477
802-434-2112
birdseyevt.com

Project Team
Brian Mac, principal architect; Peter Abiles, architect; Erika Mustermann, project manager; Mario Rossi, Jeanne Dupont, Fulano de Tal, design team

Interior designer
Brooke Michelsen Design

Engineers
Engineering Ventures (structural); Zero Energy Design (environmental); MSK Engineers (civil)

Consultants
Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture (landscape); Foster Lyons Building Science (envelope)

General Contractor
Vermont Barns

Photographer
Younes Bounhar/Doublespace

Specifications

Exterior Cladding
Metal panels: A606 weathering steel
Rainscreen: Petersen Tegl, Cover 170, C36
Wood: Nakamoto Forestry, Gendai
Moisture barrier: Dorken, Delta Fassade SA
Other cladding: A606 weathering steel lattice

Roofing
Elastomeric: AcryLabs
Metal: A606 weathering steel
Tile/shingles: Petersen Tegl, Cover 170, C36

Windows
Wood frame: Dynamic Fenestration, timber curtain wall, casement, fixed

Glazing
Glass: Cristacurva, Tri-pane

Doors
Entrances: Custom Fabricated Wood and A606 weathering steel
Wood doors: Dynamic Fenestration, swinging
Sliding doors: Dynamic Fenestration, lift-slide
Other doors: Overhead door custom clad in A606 Weathering Steel

Hardware
Locksets, Pulls: Sun Vallery Bronze

Interior Finishes
Cabinetwork and custom woodwork: Custom millwork fabricated by Birdseye; misc. built-ins by Cabico Unique Cabinetry
Paints and stains: Benjamin Moore Aura
Wall coverings: Wallpapers
Paneling: Flat Sawn White Oak
Solid surfacing: Imperial Danby Marble, VT Structural Slate
Special surfacing: Domigue Plaster, Pierre
Floor and wall tile: Cle; Fire Clay; Concrete Collaborative; Heath; Petersen Tegl
Other special finishes: Custom brass backsplash

Lighting
Interior ambient lighting: John Cullen; School House Electric; Cedar & Moss; Apparatus; Allied Maker; Souda; Arhaus; Stahl and Band
Downlights: Alphabet Lighting
Tasklighting: House of Troy; 1st Dibs
Exterior: Alphabet Lighting; Louis Poulsen; BK Lighting; Luxr; Lightcraft
Dimming system or other lighting controls: Savant lighting control system

Plumbing
Faucets: California Faucets; Waterstone
Showerheads: California Faucets
Basins: Rohl; Icera
Tubs: Hydro Systems; Duravit
Toilets: Toto, Icera

Conveyance
Elevators/escalators: Inclinator, Elevette Hydraulic

Energy
Photovoltaic system: 20kw ground-mounted solar array
HVAC: All-electric geothermal ground source Heat Pumps – water-to-water radiant heat and water-to-air heating and cooling, whole-house ERV, humidification and dehumidification