Sustainability and Biophilic Design Takes Center Stage at Newly Listed Martha's Vineyard Home

A newly built waterfront estate incorporating biophilic design principles, green technology, and sustainable materials is now on the market with Gerret Conover and Tom LeClair of our Marthas Vineyard team. Designed by Tom Tate of Tate Builders, Minawetu is a modern masterpiece overlooking the Vineyard Sound and Elizabeth Islands. The name Minawetu is derived from the Wampanoag names for Island (Munahee) and home (Weetyoo).

"We are so excited to be offering this breathtaking property for sale," said Gerret Conover. "It represents a property unlike any the Vineyard has ever seen. Marthas Vineyard, with its incredible natural beauty, diversity, and increasing number of world-class homes such as Minawetu, is attracting the attention of a growing network of ultra-high-net-worth clients."

The design of the house builds off the work of biologist, theorist, naturalist, and author Edward O. Wilson. He popularized the term Biophilia, which refers to a love of life or living systems and implies that humans have a biological need to connect to nature.

"For Minawetu, we followed the 14 patterns of biophilic design, which is an amazing study by Terrapin, when considering every element of the design," said Tom Tate. "Biophilic design seeks to connect our inherent need to affiliate with nature in the modern build environment. Our bodies want to be out in nature, so when we bless these spaces with biophilic design, we feel better. It stimulates a physiological response to the building environment."

To achieve that connection to nature, Minawetu was conceived to make the most of its ocean setting. In prioritizing capturing the views, much attention has been paid to outdoor living space, particularly on the roof. The rooftop living space here offers:

• Expansive Ipe decks;
• Solar power and green technologies;
• Botanical gardens;
• Rooftop pool that utilizes stainless steel construction, which means it weighs three times less than a concrete vessel and ensures longevity, structural durability, and sustainability.

Further promoting a love of life or living systems are the concerted efforts to deploy sustainable materials and practices on the house. A few of these notable features include:

• Energy efficiency achieved through the use of Sperry Sails handcrafted sailcloth canopies providing roof coverage for less cooling requirements and options for Solar PV;
• Locally sourced, split-face Chelmsford Grey granite that radiates substance, stability, and orderliness;
• Sustainable materials such as Red Grandis, an ecological alternative to many tropical hardwoods, and White Glass Terrazzo flooring.