Tonic Design GREENville House Featured in Architectural Record

Young and hip, Raleigh architecture/design-build firm Tonic Design is no stranger to the pages of New Raleigh. From their multiple AIA-NC Awards, to local home tours, to bus designs, to finishing high on the Moore Square design competition, the crew over at Tonic are definitely creating some of the more cutting edge architecture in the region, if not a broader area.

As well as making waves in local design circles, over the years Tonic has also been published in a few national publications, with more sure to follow in the coming years. The most recent is a write-up in one of the largest trade magazines in the architecture industry, Architectural Record. (Full Article Here) The article focuses on the client/architecture relationship around their newest house (Walters’ Residence) in Greenville, North Carolina. The 4,700-square foot project “is expected to be rated LEED Silver in the next few months” and “has the performance of one half its size.”

The house has many of the typical Tonic Design trademarks including a more materially elaborate exterior contrasting with the pure, monochromatic interior. Ribbon windows are implemented where natural light and privacy are both desired. Floor to ceiling glass opens up the living spaces and some of the bedrooms for a more flexible and fluid spatial experience. But, as mentioned, the sustainability aspect of the house is a good amount of where the design was focused. From the article: ‘“Bobby Walters was a great client because he pushed the performance of the house in so many ways, so the mechanical systems are all highly sophisticated. This house is wired for anything the future may hold.” A geothermal HVAC system heats and cools, while a drip-irrigation system outside captures rainwater and stores it in an underground cistern.’

We are sure that when AIA awards time rolls around, Tonic’s Walter’s Residence will be atop the list again (UPDATE: The Walters House has won the 2010 AIA Triangle Merit and First Annual Gail Lyndsey Sustainability Award at this year’s Triangle AIA Awards). There is a slideshow over at Arch Record and a handful of photos below from Tonic. The house is also published in this month’s edition of the print version of the magazine.

It’s a sophisticated house, and according to the clients, well worth the hurdles—most of which came before the less-than-a-year construction process took place. “It took four years to design and find a site,” says Bobby Walters, “but what we ended up with is completely satisfying. Not a day goes by that I don’t notice something new.” Kristi agrees, and says she’s even getting used to the cars that pull up in the driveway regularly to gawk. “I don’t blame them,” she says, “it’s a really fun house.”

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Tonic Design Architecture Vinny Petrarca Robby Johnston Architectural Records Greenville, NC

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