395 Ellis Hollow Creek Road

The house is inspired by contemporary Northern European architecture featuring cathedral ceilings and large windows, providing passive solar heating in the winter. Other Eco-friendly features include the use of wood from trees from the land, a deck and siding made from durable, NY State-grown, Larch wood, and use of SIP panels for the roof with a high insulation value.

Contact Name: Jurriaan Gerretsen
Address: 395 Elis Hollow Creek Road, Ithaca
Type of Building: single-family home
Designers / Builders / Contractors: Contractor: Mike Munch; Excavation, septic: Carson Ground Works; Welding: Ian Whittemore; Larch lumber: Cory Shilliff; Designed by owner.
Year Built: 2012
Building Features: The structure of this 2200-square foot house consists of a combination of steel posts, laminated beams, and standard framing. One of the main features of the living room is a large curtain wall window, made by the owner from Ash reclaimed from the land. The 40 ft long South-facing window of the living room provides passive solar heating in the winter. In the summer, the 3 ft overhang and the trees provide ample shadow. About 10,000 square foot of lumber was milled from the trees obtained from the clearing of the building site and driveway. This lumber is used for window frames, stairs, and flooring. The wrap-around deck, siding, and ceilings are made from locally grown, and milled Larch that is well known for its rot resistance and durability. In part due to the use of 10" thick roof panels (SIPs), the house has excellent heat insulation.

Last updated September 29, 2015