View Static Version
Loading

Owner Built architectural statement

Adjacent to a state forest and surrounded by a line of well-treed hills, an A-framed house rises deliberately, pointedly toward the sky, from the far corner of a cut flower farm in Glastonbury, Connecticut.

Like a cathedral, the roofline rises from a bed of early winter snow.

The owners, Grace and Spencer Wilcox, planned and built this house in 2021. They chose the design, the exact location, their home's relation to the surrounding landscape, and then lifted every beam into place and hammered every nail with the support of a community of friends, family, and strangers just curious about what they were doing.

As you approach the home, around the bend in a winding country road, it strikes you as distinctly different from traditional New England vernacular. Set as it is in an open field, the mind's eye may trigger visions of a big-sky ranch in Montana, or Wyoming. But this is Connecticut.

The exterior is clad in unfinished cedar shingles, wood trim, and a metal roof.

The location for the 1,300 square foot home reflects the owners' desire to preserve as much farmable land on the property as possible. The land has been in Grace's family for five generations.

The largest windows in the home face north.

Sustainability is important. The home is heated with a simple wood stove. It is well-insulated, and the wall with the most window space faces north to maximize natural light and to foster natural air-flow. Hot water and the clothes dryer are heated with propane.

The Wilcox home is surrounded by acres of agricultural land including a flower farm started by Grace.

The A-frame architecture is a style Grace and Spencer have always been attracted to and when it came to building, it was a style they believe fit well given the location and their desire to be environmentally conscious both with their home construction and in their farming business (Graceful Acres).

A wood stove keeps the home warm in the heart of the New England winter.

The town of Glastonbury traces its roots to the mid-1600s and its main street, and the many farmhouses along the Connecticut River, contribute to the town's character. The Wilcox A-frame, and the farm it is associated with, offer something new to that history while staying true to a generational commitment to the land itself.

As the home achieves the status of local architectural landmark, travelers will one day be given directions based on its design and location. "Head north and take a left just past the A-frame at Graceful Acres."

(Property fly-over).

The side of the home furthest from the road offers the best un-obstructed views of the natural surroundings.

Find more stories at ThisDecisiveMoment.com

© Dean Pagani 2022

Credits:

© Dean Pagani

NextPrevious