workac combines passive performance with expressive form
WORKc‘s Riverhouse in Hopkinton, Rhode Islandit transforms the limitations of the floodplain into a defining architectural gesture that combines climate resilience with spatial clarity and formal precision. The project is conceived as a solid, elevated volume defined by a faceted blue metal roof which folds inward to carve a central courtyard. They were meant to meet Passive house standards, h residence is raised above ground in response to floodplain conditions. THE wooden The base supports a heavily articulated upper shell, where it is integrated solar panels and precise openings give the house a clear, almost picturesque presence within its wooded setting.
Replacing an outdated rural shelter, the compact structure raised above the ground to meet regulatory requirements. Its elevated volume frames large views across the site and redefines the relationship between house and ground, positioning elevation as a spatial strategy.
all images from Bruce Damonte
a sculptural spatial system shaped by light defines the river house
Led by Amale Andraos and Dan Wood, the group at WORKac integrates environmental performance into the core of the home. Triple-glazed windows, photovoltaic panels combined with on-site battery storage and 35cm insulated walls support an all-electric operation all year round. Rather than adhering to the neutrality often associated with high-performance buildings, the project embraces contrast and expression, using color, texture and material variations to reflect the tones of its surroundings.
This sculptural envelope acts as more than a formal gesture, organizing the house around a series of interior and exterior views. The angular geometry of the roof draws light into the central void while maintaining a compact footprint, allowing the interior to extend through the section, while the courtyard introduces a sheltered outdoor room at the center of the residence.
Throughout the house, architecture unfolds as a collaborative field. A custom dining room by MOS Architects anchors the central space, acting simultaneously as structure, furniture and social concentrator. A large, theatrical curtain by Petra Blaisse spans the living room, shaping light and privacy while introducing seasonal variability. In the bedrooms, linen curtains from Austėja Walter soften the interiors, while tiles developed with Karim Chaya bring patterns rooted in Lebanese craft traditions.
The multifaceted blue roof incorporates solar panels into its sculpted geometry
The living room opens to the landscape through large glazed openings
The main dining room has bespoke furniture and a large curtain that adjusts the light
The kitchen and dining area extend to the outdoors
movement of color and light shape in the house
tiles with patterns and bright colors dress up the bathroom
nestled in dense forest along the river
project information:
name: Riverhouse
location: Hopkinton, Rhode Island, USA
principals: Amale Andraos + Dan Wood
project architects: Kristina Dittrich, Matt Voss
group: Reuben Cheeks, Din Din, Ryan Fagrie, Jenna Hussain, Madha Nawal, Smiley Scott, Rondela Spooner, Henry Wotowicz, Men Yushan
contractor: Alan Hill and Eze Bongo R&R
MEP, passive house + sustainability: Jordan Goldman, Zero Energy Design
landscape architecture: Anne Penniman Associates, Golden Root Inc.
lighting: Tillotson Design Associates
construction: Auger Engineering
concrete: Cagin Concrete
electricians: Bruce Kenyon, Kurt Holman
excavation + civil: David Benn
metal cladding + roof: Jason Senior
plumbing: Ron Zanella
pool: Chuck NeJame, Pools RI
masonry: Gary Williams
