This modestly priced 2200 sqft LEED Silver house is for a family of four and located in a transitional community close to downtown. The clients wanted to continue the neighborhood tradition of front porch/yard living. We combined this desire with our interest in improving the passive solar capacity for an east-west lot (poor orientation for a cold climate). The resulting L-shaped plan creates a large south-facing terrace that fronts the street. The resulting increase in side-yard setback allows unrestricted glazing on the south walls thus bringing sunlight deep into the plan (and naturally heating the concrete floor). In summer, the open tread stairway is designed to create a solar chimney that draws cool air in through an at-grade north-side window and pushes warm air out through an upper floor window. In winter, the stairwell vertically distributes warm air from the wood-burning stove in the living room.