The owners purchased a run-down small home near downtown Lafayette hoping to remove it and build their dream and retirement home. Other goals were to have a very green sustainable structure, and incorporate a glass art studio into the plans. The result is a 3,000 square foot three bedroom, two-bathroom home with a large 840 square foot glass-working studio with kilns. Meant to be a compact home for a couple, the children were out of the house, perfectly fitted to their needs and nothing more.
Passive house technologies were used extensively and where cost-effective. Triple glazed windows by Zola and energy recovery systems with high insulative value wall construction are just some of the features. A full 8kW photovoltaic solar array is installed on the new cool-roof.
To keep the design within budget, the new home design is kept to a simple rectangle in shape, and is positioned in the site to provide privacy from adjacent neighbors. Large windows and doors with a roof deck at the front yard off the living, dining and kitchen great room, and a deck off the master bedroom with hot tub, make best use of this urban lot. It’s minimal footprint and passive sustainable design and construction make it a good neighbor and contribution to the environment.