Named for the towering pine trees surrounding its Chesapeake Bay site, Loblolly House was designed to blend seamlessly with its natural environment while serving as a forward-thinking experiment in prefabricated residential architecture. The design team sought to create a home that embraced its surroundings and could be replicated through innovative building methods.
Loblolly House
A Prefabricated Home Inspired by Nature
Creating a Porch-Like Living Experience
A primary design goal was to maximize views of the Chesapeake Bay and allow the home to open completely for natural ventilation. NanaWall folding glass walls transform the interior into a porch-like living space, creating an uninterrupted connection between indoors and outdoors while filling the home with fresh air and expansive waterfront views.
Balancing Energy Efficiency with Open Design
The project required a system that could provide both large openings and strong thermal performance. NanaWall’s thermally broken folding glass walls helped retain radiant heat during colder months while preserving panoramic views year-round, supporting the home's ambitious energy efficiency goals without sacrificing comfort.
“NanaWall turned out to be the most appropriate system for Loblolly House in large part because of the system’s compatibility of jamb and sill details with the aluminum structural frame.”
Engineered to Fit a Unique Prefabricated Structure
Loblolly House features an innovative aluminum structural frame that demanded a highly customizable solution. NanaWall’s compatibility with the project’s jamb and sill details, along with manufacturer support and flexible folding configurations, allowed the design team to integrate the system seamlessly into the home’s prefabricated construction.