Guest House, Southern Vermont. Located on beautiful river-bottom land in rural Vermont, the new house provides guest lodging for extended family members who spend summer and holidays here. It was designed to replace a deteriorated and inadequate addition to the original farmhouse, and to complement the massing and layout of the existing house, while protecting views to the river. The 2,000 square foot house features a timber-framed living room with a stone masonry fireplace, making use of local and natural materials in an open first floor plan. The plan also includes open and screened porches, which help shape and enclose a central yard. The house is designed and built to meet Vermont Energy Star standards, and includes “rain-screen” exterior detailing, structural insulated panels, and a central ventilation system with heat recovery. It was completed in 2004.