Kim Hoover’s Sustainable Upstate Home Has Fossilized Bamboo Floors and a ‘Cool Roof’
Architect Kim Hoover, principal at Hoover Architecture, built a bold sustainable house and guesthouse within the picturesque Hudson Valley. The two-level property takes inspiration from a tree house, which is reflected through its open, casual spaces, use of wood and the great outdoor views it frames through its many windows. But the home’s most interesting details aren’t what you’d expect. This unique space boasts recycled porcelain tiles, fossilized bamboo floors and it has a reflecting “cool roof.”
Architect Kim Hoover is based in beautiful New Paltz and she specializes in functional, sustainable homes that help clients realize their dreams within a budget. This contemporary property sits on a West Park lot near the majestic Hudson River. The home is made up of two large interconnected volumes, its unique shape the result of the decision to add a guesthouse during construction.
Taking inspiration from tree house living, the home is informal and spacious as well as comfortable and cozy. A set of reclaimed timber stairs with stainless steel cable railing leads through an atrium, and the upper and lower levels remain open to one another but also separate.
Extremely energy-efficient, the home has spray foam insulation, triple-pane windows, radiant floor slabs and plenty of daylight coming in from its many windows. There is also a solar hot water system on the roof, the toilets are dual flush, and all appliances are Energy Star-rated. The furniture that fills the home is either from local antique stores or passed down from family.
The floors are covered with sustainable materials like renewable cork, recycled porcelain tiles and fossilized bamboo boards by Cali-bamboo, all which bring extra warmth to the interiors. But the home’s best asset sits on top—a “cool roof” that reflects sunlight and absorbs less heat than a standard roof, keeping the interior temperature ideal without the help of an air conditioner.
See more sustainable homes by Kim Hoover here.
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