Thor Heinrichs Architect
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Ridge House on its ridge-top site, the long flat roof sheltering a screened porch above the lakes
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01 — Residential · Lake Wales, FL

Ridge House

A single-story house along the Lake Wales Ridge, sheltered by one long, deep roof.

Location
Lake Wales, FL
Completed
2024
Gross floor area
2,580 sq ft
Sector
Residential
Scope
Architecture, interiors, landscape
Stage
Completed

(The brief)

A family wanted a house that would let them live outdoors for most of the year, on a sandy ridge-top lot with long views south over the lakes.

(The constraints)

Fierce summer sun, hurricane design wind speeds, a narrow buildable strip between protected scrub habitat, and a deed restriction that nothing rise above the tree line.

(Our response)

We laid the plan along the ridge and drew a single roof plane low over it. The deep overhang keeps the sun off the glass all year, so the rooms stay cool, while winter sun still warms the porch. Every room opens onto a screened, covered porch that runs the full length of the house.

(Photographs & drawings)

Show
Ridge House on its ridge-top site, the long flat roof sheltering a screened porch above the lakes
+152+150+148+144+142+140+138 ENTRYKITCHEN / DININGLIVING STOVEBATHBEDBED COVERED TERRACE LINE OF ROOF OVER 111'-6"23'-0"10'-0" AA PREVAILING WIND (SW) N010 m GROUND FLOOR2,580 SQ FT
Fig. 1Plan. Rooms, routes and how the building sits on its site.
Light
ROOF +11'-2"FIN. FLOOR 0'-0" 10'-0" NORTHSOUTH 21 JUN · NOON · 86°MIDSUMMERThe 10 ft overhang keeps high sunoff the glass.21 DEC · NOON · 39°MIDWINTERWinter sun warms the porch;the rooms stay shaded all year. DUSKThe rooms glow along thelength of the terrace. SECTION A–AThrough living room and terrace
Fig. 2Section A–A. Noon sun at 27.9°N: 86° at midsummer, 39° at midwinter. Switch the light to see each state.
OVERHANG 300001Sedum blanket on substrate, 4 in02Waterproof membrane03Rigid insulation, 12 in04Charred timber fascia05Air barrier06Board-formed concrete slab, 10 in07Oak frame, triple glazingEAVES DETAILRoof edge over the terrace glazing · not to scale
Fig. 3Detail. How the main materials meet.

(Performance)

Site energy use
10 kBtu/ft²/yr
Embodied carbon
395 kgCO2e/m²
Airtightness
0.8 ACH50
Cooling
Variable-speed heat pump with dehumidification

(Materials)

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