Guest House, Southern Vermont. Located on scenic river-bottom land in rural Vermont, this 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 adjacent original farmhouse, and to complement its massing and layout, 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 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.