Robert M. Cain, Architect

Located on a one-third-acre infill site, the RainShine House is a two-story, 2,800-square-foot residence designed by Robert M. Cain Architect. The brief called for a modern home that integrates sustainable strategies within a compact suburban lot. The program includes three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, with principal living spaces organized under a distinctive butterfly roof. The project addresses site constraints through its orientation and form, emphasizing natural daylight and water management as primary design drivers. The roof, defined by exposed steel beams and wood decking, floats above continuous clerestory windows, allowing daylight to permeate the interior. The butterfly form facilitates rainwater collection, channeling runoff to a basement rain harvest system, while maximizing southern exposure for rooftop photovoltaic panels. Generous glazing with solar shading and operable windows moderates thermal gain. Functional storage is incorporated within 'thick walls,' which house shelving, niches, and systems. Interior partitions stop short of the ceiling, topped by glass, reinforcing the impression of the roof hovering above the living areas.

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