Modern Breed
Ridgefield Magazine, November/December 2015
This article is about a home BPC Green Builders built in Ridgefield, Connecticut begins:
““A HOUSE IS NOT JUST WHAT YOU WANT BUT WHAT THE SITE WANTS,” says architect Vincent Colangelo. That’s particularly true for the modern house he designed off Branchville Road. Finished in 2010, this stunning contemporary sits on a 2.65-acre property that slopes down to the woods. Designed in collaboration with the owners and Wilton-based builder Mike Trolle, the house models comfort and sustainability. It is also a happy haven for the owners’ two retired greyhounds, Ender and Jolie.
The owners met in high school in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Apartment dwellers since birth, they had never lived in a single-family house before embarking on this ambitious project. When they discovered Stamford-based Colangelo, a self-described Kenny Rogers lookalike, they liked his combination of architectural experience—skilled in everything from luxury houses to more simple office buildings. They found him easy to talk to, “not too stuffy,” and without any of the “high ego” of some other architects.
The ease of communication turned out to be important as the house went through multiple iterations in the design stage—shrinking from a three-story mansion to a manageable 4,500-square-foot four-bedroom with a functional second floor underneath. New modeling software helped the owners visualize the plans as they changed.
Also, the owners’ vision for the house evolved. At the outset, paralyzing seasonal allergies and comfort drove the project. The owners needed to escape the pollen-soaked Connecticut air in spring while still enjoying the outdoors the rest of the year. (…)
Reprinted with permission.
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