Architect Stephanie Horowitz believes in designing homes that not only are customized for her clients’ lifestyles and preferences, but that also will be adaptable for generations to come. “During the design process, we are always thinking about flexibility and creating a house that will outlast our clients — how will it work for the next potential owners and the ones after that, whether it is inherited or sold,” she says. This ethically sustainable approach results in long-lasting homes and less waste created by teardowns and extensive renovations. In the case of this striking home on the Rhode Island coast, putting such flexibility to the test occurred on a much faster schedule than expected. A retired couple bought a beautiful piece of land along Mount Hope Bay and hired Horowitz’s firm to design a sustainable second home for themselves and their extended growing family there. But while it was under construction, they had to bow out for personal reasons. A family with young children snapped it up as their full-time home before construction was complete. Because of the built-in flexibility of the custom design, the house worked well for the new family and their needs. In addition, the home is resilient and built to sustainable standards that are almost at net zero, meaning the house creates almost as much energy as it uses.

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