The Goldsmith Residence responds to both its immediate site and broader environmental concerns in order to create a more sustainably oriented dwelling. Two prominent existing trees at the eastern corners of the site inform the building’s massing. The design responds by pushing toward the western edge of the property and inhabiting the space between the trees. The first tree serves as the focal point of the entry court and the second provides shade to outdoor spaces at the back patio.

The ground floor of the house rests well above the exterior grade, providing resilience against the effects of future floods. The entry sequence mitigates this change in elevation by terracing the transition from the exterior into multiple thresholds. Visitors first climb the solid stone base of the house before ascending a series of floating wood steps that bring them into the home’s interior.

In addition to defining how the building meets the ground, the limestone base also encloses the garage within a volume and rises up to form the fireplace that connects the ground floor to the level above. A series of thickened walls, inset with warm wood, work in dialogue with the stone to define the interior spaces at both levels. Generous planes of glass allow natural light to enter while deep overhangs and folded roof planes provide shade and reduce solar gain. The large windows and outdoor terraces of the upper floor immerse the inhabitants within the canopy of the trees.