For the last several years I've been working on a side project with a former co-worker, Robert Pinion, and I wanted to post some photos. When we started this project the homeowners had been living in a condo around the corner from their old home. The Roxbury home, seen below, had water and mold damage due to the extremely high water table in the area. The foundation itself was compromised and rather than moving they wanted to rebuild. As we started designing their new home they had several design criteria. The first was that the new home be accessible to anyone with disabilities and second was that the home be environmentally friendly and lastly that the tower remain. The tower was build around 1920 and was part of an entrance gate into St. Marys Catholic School. The neighborhood was later developed in the 1950's.
1957 Home
Second Floor looking down at the the galleryThe homeowners wanted to make sure that their home felt open. The Gallery is a two story space for the display of artwork and from the second floor you can see the front and back yards. The home is very modern with a neutral color palette...except for the few bold pops of color. Mary the home owner is one of the greatest women you will ever meet. Below is her "Crazy Arts Room", Mary is an artist even though she would reprimand me for saying so. She is so creative and loves to spend time working on her projects.
Hannah's room
Hannah's room
Michael's RoomEach of the bedrooms is really a suite, they each have their own balcony and bathroom.
Second Floor landing looking down!
We had to reinforce the tower, but it remained. I love the way it sneaks into the interior and that it creates a strong contrast with the modern railing!
Living Room
Dinning RoomThe home was featured in the 2009 Parade of Homes. At the last minute our art supplier backed out and we were in a jamb. I called my friends at Alpine Art and they provided us with art for the entire residence. One of the main artists featured was Jeff Pugh and I love his work. He is a local artist that exhibits in the local galleries. The art was the perfect addition to the home.
Master Bedroom
Kitchen & Breakfast Nook
Gallery
Foyer looking at stairs and elevator
Below are some of the things Andolseks did to receive LEED certification
Saved and reused:
- Stones from fireplace, exterior walls and stairs were used to repair existing tower and surrounding landscape.
- Concrete from driveway was saved and used to create pavers for patio and walkways, concrete not used was taken to a recycling center to be crushed for road base.
- Kitchen cabinets and countertops were saved and repainted and used in workroom for workroom beneath the single-car garage.
- Hardwood flooring was reused in first floor half bath and the remaining was taken to a shop that sells old flooring.
- Aluminum was taken off the previous house and recycled.
- Cedar-shingle roof was taken off and shredded to use as mulch in landscaping.
- Trees that were taken down were mulched, and either used in the landscaping or taken to the green recycling center at the city disposal.
- Stone tower built in the late 1800s was reincorporated into the home doors and wood cabinet draws were taken to a reuse retail store original bars powdered coated and placed in tower windows.
In the home:
- Some of the furniture has been in the family for years and reused.
- Pieces were reupholstered, repainted or left as is.
- No VOC paints
- Bamboo stairs, a highly-sustainable wood product
- Dual flush toilets
- Shower heads and bath sinks have ultra-low flow aerators to save water use.
- Minimal south facing windows to cut down on sun exposure that would heat up the home in the summer.
Kitchen:
- Recycling center in kitchen
- Highly water- and energy-efficient dishwasher
- Gas appliances
- Pull out drawers for easy access
- Pull out cabinet shelves for easy access
- Low formaldehyde use in making of all cabinets in pantry, kitchen and baths.
- Cooktop vent is vented out of the house at the roof to decrease environmental noise.
- Bathroom fans are also at the roof to minimize interior noise.
- Highest energy-star rated appliances used everywhere.
Flooring:
- All floors have radiant heating. Floors are concrete and recyclable.
- Floors partly covered with carpet squares that have recycled content, squares are dishwasher safe.
- Mildly-abrasive carpet at entryways used to decrease affects of allergies/cleaner environment.
Outside:
- Windows are rated energy efficient for area and are low-e, double paned.
- Fins on exterior are placed based on sun study designed for home to make the best use of light and not allowing too much heat in. (passive-solar use)
- Solar-thermal panels used to heat domestic water and to used to heat radiant flooring.
- Solar pholtaic panels used to help create electricity (approximately 30 percent of our use).
- Grid-tied, net-metering French drains around the basement and first floor to divert and collect and reuse underground water that damaged the previous home.
- Water rights purchased to use underground spring water to collect run-off water and use to irrigate xeriscaped landscape with native plants and less than 10 percent native grass.
- Collected water used to cool the liquid chiller to air condition the home. (running at 40 percent power usage as a comparable sized air chiller)
Cree LR6 LED lights used for all can lighting. Each light gives off a 65watt equivalent light but uses only 12 watts of electricity. Cool to the touch, so as not to generate heat and increase air conditioning costs. Average life expectancy is about 50,000 hours or 20 years normal use.
Insulation:
- Extremely tight envelope helps efficiently maintain desired temperatures and control allergens,
- Spray polyurethane (no formaldehyde) insulation on all walls and roof with Fiberglas batting or blown in on top of that. R54 on roof and R25 in walls.
- Hardie Board siding, fiber-concrete, rated 50 year paint on top of it--a sustainable product.
- Significant steel roofing and siding of garages, recyclable
Landscaping:
- Only 10 percent drought-tolerant sod used and majority of plants are drought tolerant
- Fruit tree and eatable plants used for helping in self-sufficiency.
- Hardscapes shaded to cut down on heating the environment.
- Minimal hardscapes to maximize water return to the aquifer instead of runoff to the storm sewer
Xeriscaping
Park strip was bricked with bricks from local building that was demolished.
Heating/Cooling Systems:
- Air exchanger on roof, precools or preheats incoming fresh air with cool or warm outgoing stale air.
- Underground water collection system also refills the water feature. The variable-speed pump for the feature can be adjusted to increase or decrease the flow to minimize energy usage.
- Wood framing is made from FSC wood.
- Concrete mix has high ash content.
- High-velocity air conditioning, minimizes duct work
- Fireplace has coaxial flue, bringing in fresh air and exhausting used gas, providing radiant heat but sealed, and therefore not losing heat from inside the house out the flue.
