Howard
Waterfall Retreat

This project stands out for its thoughtful integration of the original structure and its emphasis on landscape over architectural object-making. Its modest scale and careful siting foster a strong relationship with the environment, allowing the architecture to serve as a restrained backdrop for community life and ecological engagement.

The attempt to honor the humble nature of the original structure, alongside the careful integration of high-quality interior and exterior habitable space, shows a respect for the site and the history of the family and building, while still taking modern living into consideration.

The visuals foreground land, water, and materiality over formal expression, resulting in a grounded and credible vision. The inclusion of human figures adds realism, and the design appears achievable within a reasonable budget. While some ambiguity remains around programmatic requirements—such as outdoor access from bedrooms—the narrative and diagrams convey a clear concept rooted in the site’s geology. Its quiet confidence and measured restraint set it apart. Overall, this is a well-conceived and contextually sensitive proposal.

Really well done. Preserving the existing envelope of the house and building underneath it, although challenging in a shale substrate, is a very poetic way of connecting existing to new. This is reinforced at multiple scales, from deliberate interior circulation to bird nesting detail at the edge of the deck (love this idea). Well-executed and beautiful project. One concern: the prompt asked that the building be built outside of the floodplain, but I am unable to find a reference to it in the submission. My gut tells me that there is enough setback from the house to the creek, but this should be made clearer. All around, a very well thought-out and poetic solution to the prompt.

Elegant adaptation and extension of the existing structure that honors and echoes the site. Form is a clear expression of the landscape's strata. Is there a way to better honor the hearth and fireplace?

This proposal manages to meet the goals of the brief in a compact, elegant, and respectful manner. Repurposing the main level of the existing structure as the scheme's living quarters permits the lower-level "tray" to act as the home's focused social space, drawing the immediate landscape and waterfall into the daily rhythms of the home's occupants. The material palette is contextual, and the entire ensemble is in keeping with the legacy of the Howard family. While the physical structure as rendered and planned is enticing, additional detail and vision at the remaining open landscape would have added to this proposal.

This project, on its surface, seems to be the least ambitious of those shortlisted. Its form is simple and almost too deferential to the existing structure, but at its core, it seems to best understand the opportunities of the grading of the site and the wisdom of the siting for the original building.

I didn't want to like this project initially, but the deeper I dive into the submissions, the more I appreciate the discipline and restraint displayed here. For me, this is the appropriate answer for this program and this place. It's as if an architect hadn't intervened, and that is how it succeeds. There is strength in the subtlety, simplicity, and economy of this scheme, and for these reasons, this project also receives my vote for the Sustainability Award.

Importantly, the communal gathering space is immersed in this garden, and it respectfully tucks itself under the existing cabin to minimize impact to the site.

This proposal is quietly the most ambitious and successful. The historic cottage was strategically situated in the most logistically sensible location, yet it presents a fundamental issue: “How can one access the falls?” The main attraction of the site is the 21-meter vertical drop of the falls, but engaging with it from the upper existing cottage is challenging. This proposal aims to preserve the historical cottage while exploring positioning the new retreat in the most dynamic area of the site, while preserving both the historic cottage and the natural beauty of the site.

Elegant proposal that presents a contemporary reinterpretation of the original cottage. This project also explores the horizontality of the site and maximizes views to the natural environment. This same horizontality celebrates the importance of the original cottage by allowing it to be the most prominent volume in the composition. The plan is very well zoned, and the spaces produced are refreshing and welcoming. Thick roof and floor slab edges are recommended to be reconsidered—too strong and dominant in the composition—as well as the overall footprint of the “branch,” which can be scaled down a bit to seem less imposing on the site.

I think the slightly elevated, stilted solution for the lower level is fantastic. It requires minimal below-grade intervention and provides the occupant with these amazing connections to the stream and surrounding topography. I just think it went too far. There’s almost no remaining original site left. It’s almost as if the building sprawled so much that it needed to recreate an artificial version of the site on the roof. A more delicate, efficient solution (using these low stilted platforms) might have provided a more tangible connection to the real nature of the site. Here, the recreated site appears to be more important.

The original cottage is respected through preservation of its overall form and its use as the primary living space. The branching of that form through an elegant sloping roofline creates a seamless connection to a subservient structure for individual retreat, one that is beautifully integrated into the landscape. Potential flooding concern for the new addition. Maintenance of sloped and flat roofs in heavy snow and rain conditions.

Volume of house disappointing; appropriate ADA accommodations.

This project nicely inserts itself into the site and references the original structure’s forms without pandering.

I love the reinterpretation of the existing cabin, used as an anchor for the scheme, creating a respectfully scaled but revised message at the street level. The balance of the program dripping down the slope and squirting between the existing trees, running up to the water’s edge... keeping its head down in deference to the site context. The character of the lower-level spaces is wonderfully scaled, warm, and interconnected, as if I’m on a simple porch embedded in a forest. A very compelling scene!

The unfortunate counterpoint here is that spreading out causes disturbance and is disruptive... but the spaces are wonderful, so perhaps the benefit justifies the “costs”? A minor point, but the extensive pathway suggested on the roof is overdeveloped. A single spot creating a raised vantage point from which to see would simplify and be more powerful.

This submission stood out for its thoughtful engagement with the waterfall and grounded materiality. Architecturally strong but somewhat out of place, it resembled a Scandinavian public building more than a rural Pennsylvania retreat. The design showed clarity and appeal, though the roof material and mix of curved and gabled forms felt unresolved. The relationship to the existing building was unclear. Despite scale and program ambiguities, the project’s ambition and unique aesthetic are appreciated.

Though this project departs dramatically from the nature of the original project in scope and scale, it cleverly preserves the original house and significant tree specimens while minimizing site disruption. Additionally, this project excels in the quality of spaces and their orientation to the views. Both public and private spaces are interesting while still seeming livable.

Inventive plan; great relationship to site; beautiful rendering; thoughtful sustainability initiative.

This project offers a nice balance of honoring aspects of the original home while updating to accommodate more people and higher-quality spaces. I particularly liked the layout of the bedrooms and their thoughtful bed orientation to the view, which is so often overlooked. Overall, this project displays a nice sensitivity to light and the dramatic nature of the site.

Tasteful way to represent the project’s sensibilities and relationship with the natural environment. Program zoning is not only effective but also takes advantage of different site exposures. Curated views of site features accompany zoning and orientation principles, which makes site acknowledgment even more interesting. Horizontality enhances the symbolic importance of the original cottage.

Of the shortlisted projects, this one captures the spirit of the place the most. It recognizes the waterfall without being worshipful, meets the program without being overwhelming, and provides a family-centered environment without saccharine nostalgia. It embraces the site’s topography and geology in a meaningful, deliberate, and natural manner.

Nicely executed project. It does one of the nicest jobs of justifying the use of the entire site and utilizes well the outdoor spaces created by the different wings. Very ingenious solution to the dining/communal space problem.

While I appreciate the clarity of the diagram, this scheme is so complicated in 3D it distracts. Better to let the site speak more loudly than the buildings. Too heavy-handed.

The organizational diagram for this scheme is very compelling, but it seems to selfishly be more about its own internal “courtyard” rather than about connections back to the site. This scheme could be further developed in that way, but as submitted, it feels as though it was carefully made for some other place.

Interesting planning; spaces proposed are also very interesting, and the proposal is beautifully drawn. Absent, however, is a clear and intentional response to the site and views.

This project was graphically strong and effectively conveyed its core concept. While it engaged little with the existing building or the waterfall, it offered distinct interior experiences and a well-considered layout. The design thoughtfully addressed multi-generational living, balancing private suites with shared central spaces. The circular form encircling existing trees demonstrated ecological sensitivity, though its rigidity introduced spatial and compositional challenges. Overall, the project was visually compelling and conceptually coherent.

A very pretty and elegant solution to the prompt. The connection and diversity of indoor and outdoor spaces are a real high point of this design. Spaces feel well arranged, each with a unique set of conditions that can be enjoyed. Really nice.

I have two critiques. The first has to do with the existing house. I know this is a proposal that replaces the existing house entirely, but it would be useful to understand how the existing footprint relates to the new proposal. Were there useful overlaps? The second critique has to do with the floodplain. It is unclear if this was considered when locating the building, particularly the living cube that hovers over the stream. It is certainly a poetic solution.

This is a fairly expansive redevelopment of the property that somehow doesn’t feel as disruptive as one would expect. Using the grade change to its advantage, this proposal trades the existing structure’s humble constraints for something vastly more expansive while not coming off as visually or physically overwhelming. At first glance, it’s difficult to see how this approach embraces the spirit of the original cabin, but this extended compound really is in keeping with the idea of a family camp in the woods.

This project makes a strong case for the preservation of the humble, original structure, with minimal disruption to the biodiversity of the site, without sacrificing quality interior spaces. Multiple exterior spaces, accessed from both public and private areas, afford easy opportunity to engage with the site intimately or in a gathering.

This scheme does so much to respect the existing cabin but then creates a hierarchy problem by placing the new living room “addition” at the upper level. Despite that criticism, the character described in the interior renderings of the living room is wonderful!

Good repurposing of the original cottage; interesting concept—bedroom lower level; glazed living room roof seems heavy; wish hall was enclosed; good relationship to waterfall.

Integration of old and new is somewhat forced, perhaps due to the complexity of the roof form on the new addition. However, the overall form, massing, scale, and interior program create a strong connection to the site and encourage movement between inside and outside. Consider honoring the existing hearth/fireplace and creating an enclosed communication between old and new on the living floor.

Major points for including the floodplain in the presentation. It was a major sticking point of the prompt, and I’m happy to see it being addressed. The sequential diagrams are very helpful in understanding the progression of the design. High scores for graphic presentation and design narrative control. The sequence of circulation feels very natural and well-rooted in the footprint of the existing house. The small courtyard makes the lower level feel like a “campsite,” turning the otherwise entirely private bedroom spaces into a secondary communal location. Really well done and comes quite close to ticking all the boxes of the prompt. A minor note—covered car parking area needs to be provided.