Each house is centered around a courtyard with a retractable, screened glass roof—part of a multiseason sun space that creates a daily connection with the natural environment even as it optimizes ventilation and solar gain. With high-performance walls, roof and windows; high-efficiency boiler, plumbing and energy-recovery ventilation; and optional solar panels, the house is a near net-zero-energy home. (For bigger images, click on the picture.)

A locally harvested, timber-frame structure and sliding glass walls frame an open, peaceful interior space. Optional, shoji-style translucent wall panels add daylighting and an Asian touch. The masonry hearth option provides clean burning, wood-fired warmth and a heated seat.

The kitchen in this house represents a rethinking of long-held assumptions, and is designed to be both more useful and more fun while staying relatively small. Innovative features include an extra-wide sink and single-row cooktop that enables ‘side-by-side’ collaborative cooking and clean-up, and wet-proof storage shelves and drawers that merge functions of pot drying and storage. A spacious, adjustable-height work island creates a hub for family activities. (For a fuller discussion, click here.)