Designed as two large octagonal forms joined together, the Harwood-Stone house is energy-efficient while large in size, thanks to its minimal surface-to-volume ratio, east-west elongation and orientation. The structure is also super insulated, passive solar and geothermally heated.

The main floor of the house is dramatized by a cathedral ceiling, shaped like an upside-down boat hull. The ceiling is supported by a pair of three-story columns which culminate in an articulated framework beneath skylights. Engineered wood — offering two times the strength of solid wood — was used for the long interior spans.

The architect dubbed it “the ark,” because he thought the roof, if flipped upside down, would resemble the hull of Noah’s vessel. But Andrea Stone thinks of her Northampton house as a well-insulated circus tent.
Eric Goldscheider
Harwood Stone In the News
Boston Globe Magazine, 2000

The focal point of the main floor is a central, open kitchen, surrounded by a living space, screened porch and master bedroom. The living room contains a glorious fireplace made of Goshen stone laced with mica and iron. Above the first floor is a loft area with two studies and an exercise space. The lower level has large windows overlooking the woods.

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