At the intersection of architecture and environmental responsibility, clovisbaronian proves innovative design can reshape the way we think about design for housing and climate change. Led by Sam Clovis, assistant instructional professor at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, and Georgina Baronian, assistant professor at the Rice School of Architecture, the firm recently earned international recognition in two separate competitions.

Their design Ambience won an Excellence Prize in the NOT A HOTEL competition, and their project A Stone at the Water’s Edge secured a finalist spot in the Concéntrico Urban Island Climate competition.

The NOT A HOTEL competition sought entries from architects under 40 years old to design a vacation home in Kitakaruizawa, Japan. Ambiance stood out from 620 entries representing 23 countries and secured a finalist position. Last December, the team traveled to the National Art Center in Tokyo to present their work and accept one of three Excellence Prizes.

“The residence is designed as a series of simple pavilions along a forested path, stitching together the existing stone outcroppings of the site to create a central outdoor room. The proposal stems from previous work of our practice reconsidering traditional planning and conditioning strategies of domestic space,” said clovisbaronian.

In January, clovisbaronian placed in the top four of the ConcéntricoUrban Island Climate competition, which sought proposals for dealing with heat waves in Logroño, Spain. It called for architects and designers to create a structure located around the lake of Felipe IV Park. The global contest received 252 designs from 49 nations.

The jury noted, “It [A Stone at the Water’s Edge] brings a very bold proposal based on the concept of the open space effect. A contemporary cave in which the roughness of the finishes contrasts with a strict geometry.”

These accolades not only validate clovisbaronian’s cutting-edge approach but also elevate the role of architecture in tackling pressing environmental challenges. As their work gains traction on the global stage, it reinforces the idea innovative design is not just aesthetic — it is essential for the future.

Ambience

To live within the beauty of Karuizawa is to experience its natural conditions. The existing vegetation and unique geology of the region serve as the primary influence on the project’s materiality. Existing rocks of the site are proposed as the foundational material, sheltering the new residence within the existing spaces between stone outcroppings. Additional stone from the region is used to construct the outer envelope of the residence, blending the home into the landscape.

Given the isolated location of the site, the ease and economy of construction were of foremost consideration in the design of this proposal. The project’s flitch beam structure reduces the weight of individual structural members, allowing for manual installation with on-site labor and reducing the need for cumbersome machinery.

The residence is designed to foster a closer relationship to nature, utilizing the earth of the site as the primary medium for producing comfort and modifying climate. A geothermal radiant system is proposed throughout the residence, providing a soft, subtle conditioning to the interior spaces of the home through the ambient temperature of the subterranean soil. The thermal mass of existing rocks and stone walls provides a natural buffer from the extreme temperatures of the coldest and warmest months. Each building is also designed to provide natural ventilation, allowing air to pass between the interior courtyard and rear gardens.

A Stone at the Water’s Edge

Designed as a thermal battery, this proposal leverages the inherent material properties of its construction — in lieu of reliance on any mechanical systems — to cool its surrounding environment. To increase the cooling potential of this climate island pavilion, a ventilated cavity is inserted between two layers of site-cast concrete. This void serves two purposes - reducing the required amount of concrete and embodied carbon, while also providing a space to passively cool the thermal mass.

This cavity is closed off during the day to eliminate the entry of warm air and maintain a cool lower surface and is opened at night through operable vents to exhaust heat accumulated during the day. This void also significantly reduces the transfer of direct heat gain from the roof’s top surface, maintaining a cold under-surface from which a visitor can experience radiant cooling.

Recycled aggregate concrete is utilized as the main environmentally and structurally performing material, limiting any necessary maintenance and ensuring long-term durability. To reduce material waste, the earth of the site is utilized as the formwork of the roof. After curing and removal of the structure, this excavated region remains as a sunken grotto along the waterfront. This site-cast method also produces a varied and textured underbelly of the roof surface.