Next West House: building for the future
Jul 25th, 2008 by rlsorbe
A large component of green design is about building today, in preparation for the future. I recently took a tour of 429 Spruce Street, a house that truly exhibits unique features and technologies that was built to withstand the test of time. This LEED Certified Platinum house encompasses energy efficient features and high-end technology in conjunction with design that meets the needs of today with easy and accessible alterations to prepare for future energy transformations, science advances and cultural changes.
This house was inspired by the Zero Carbon Initiative, a group who experiments with green building technologies through installing and using existing products in real world situations to see what works, what is practical, and what is economical. They install energy efficient systems into houses, like 429 Spruce Street, in effort to share what they learn with others. Through education and on site / real life scenarios - they hope to help others’ feel confident and comfortable in adopting energy saving products (and energy generating) in their own homes.
429 Spruce Street combines traditional design with modern renewable energy efficiencies as it sits in the historic district of Mapleton Hill. This house employs photovoltaic (solar) panels, geoexchange heating and cooling, energy efficient appliances, low E windows, and modern insulation and construction techniques. As a net-zero carbon house, it will not only create it’s own power, but it will produce energy to sell back to the grid - enough electricity to pay for all the energy that was expended in building the house. In addition to the technology advances throughout the house, sustainable building materials and practices were instilled throughout construction. For example, take a close look at the brick exterior - they are recycled bricks from a Denver building. Likewise, check out the front door, it is not glass, but a recycled plastic blend that is much more durable while maintaining an aesthetic appeal. And the solar rooftop that get southern exposure; from the front of the house you can only see about 50% of the house’s solar, and even that was seamlessly crafted to look as if it were part of the natural roof.
Beyond the LEED Certification and energy efficiencies this house exhibits, I liked all the unique features that were well planned and thought out for each room. From exquisite tile selection, lighting and fixtures, flooring and cabinetry, to the actual architectural spaces. Below are some interior spacial features that stood out:
Kitchen Pantry: With increasing gas prices, the cost of food is also on the rise. The Next West kitchen pantry is fully insulated with potential to be easily transformed into a walk-in fridge or freezer, if need be. Ordering in bulk, cooperative purchasing, and buying local are all possibilities for the future, and if this be the case, a larger walk-in could become necessary for food storage. The size of this walk-in can be altered and customized in size to the resident’s needs.
Child’s room with “closet/camp-out”space - Building forts and “smaller” spaces is a common pass time for children. They enjoy spacial orientation that is relative to their size. In the child’s room of this house, architect Jim Logan and his team have created a space for small children to have “a room of their own”, as this space is no taller than about 5 feet. As this entire house is lit up with LED lighting, this space has also incorporated two bendable LED light fixtures mounted on the wall. As the child grows, this “room” could be used as additional storage space down the road.
Utilizing Spaces - Throughout the entire house, not a space was overlooked. Each closet, bedroom, hallway, and staircase was carefully planned to comfortably maximize all aspects of this house. One example of this spacial positioning it the hallway in the lowest level of house. Architects and designers incorporated a library-like shelving into the walls, which created a comforting, clean, and useful setting, while optimizing space. Again, LED dimmable lighting is well positioned to help create a transformable atmosphere in this area.
Upon completion, the home received a City of Boulder Historic Preservation Award as well as a LEED platinum certification. In the upcoming weeks, ZC Initiative will be showcasing many of the energy efficient technologies, aspects of the interior design and architecture, and products that have made this house so special. To learn more information about 429 Spruce Street, visit Zero Carbon Initiative website.
Related Links:
Historic Preservation and Design Success, Mount St. Gertrude Academy
Living Architecture and Modern Preservation
Preservation Compliments Design