These clients are proving that efficiency does not require sacrificing priorities.
A professional couple want to live on one level with their young children but look to the day when the kids will require more space and privacy. A home office for the work-at-home-designer and a bedroom for frequently visiting grandparents are immediate necessities. The program also includes a spacious great room and master suite with added volume and two car garage. Energy efficiency is also a priority.
The Elements Austrina 2765 served as the perfect starting point. Over three thousand square feet of living area and garage in one compact volume built into the side of south facing slope. Using the foundation to enclose living space adds to the efficiency. Minimizing the surface area maximizes efficiency end controls cost, enabling us to keep the cost below $230/SF complete.
The upper level contains the family living, cooking and dining areas, the master suite and two smaller bedroom for the children for the next several years. While the great room and master bedroom have higher ceilings, the secondary spaces are all a comfortable 9'4" high, are contained under lower flat roofs for human scale and efficiency.
The lower level which contains the garage, two spaces to serve as guest room and office and a large gathering area. Eventually this will be a great day lit two bedroom suite for the children. Careful planning with an eye to the future will enable repurposing of the spaces without any costly renovation as the family matures.
Nearly two thirds of the home's high performance glass is on this south elevation: every living space is naturally lit and warmed by the sun during the winter. During the summer months existing mature trees, fully leafed, will shade the glass. High performance e argon filled low-e glazing, closed cell insulation in the roof for an R value of 48, 2 x6 wall framing for an R of 30 will minimize utility bills without the use of expensive technology.