Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Family Commits to Going Green
The English House in Orleans, Massachusetts sits on a plot of land owned by the same family since 1958. When the next generation was ready to use it year round, they decided to continue their parents' tradition of treading lightly on the land. Today the family continues their tradition of gathering here, flying in from destinations as far as the U.K. and Spain to be together. When the time came to rebuild the home, being sustainable was the number one priority. Thus, they team up with ZeroEnergy Design (ZED), an architecture and consulting firm dedicated to innovative and ecologically sensible design. We're sitting down with Stephanie Horowitz, Architect and Managing Director of ZeroEnergy Design to learn more about how they approached designing a new home for these ecologically conscious clients.
20 Spectacular Beach Houses | Browse beach-house photos
20 Spectacular Beach Houses | Browse beach-house photos
What looks like a view across the yard is actually a view across the a living roof! This is so fitting, as one of the original owners was a botanist, and both parents always made sensitive treatment of the environment a top priority.
Here is another angle of what's just beyond the living roof (you see a bit of it in the bottom left corner). This second story deck has a tree house feel. Beyond that, Stephanie tells us, "The home’s roofdeck provides views of Pilgrim Lake and the surrounding tree canopy. Though the house sits only 125 feet from the lake, several trees provide privacy to the site. In winter, once the trees have shed their leaves, the view really opens up from both the second floor master suite and the roof deck." In a time when some homeowners associations are barring solar panels as unsightly, this home shows how they can be an attractive addition that can save lots of energy and money.
The wide open kitchen and living spaces are the heart of the home. The firebox is by EcoSmart Fire
Art played a large role in the design of the home: "The entire family loved art; between pieces collected from their world-wide travels and those developed by the amateur painters in the family, art was always an integral part of the household," Stephanie tells us. This painting is by Cuban artist Edel Bordón.
The clients' love of Julia Child inspired them to request open shelving in lieu of upper cabinets. The recessed cabinets on the left provide pantry space. Stephanie explains how this design fits in so well: "The deep pantry cabinets match the base kitchen cabinets, but the integrated or recessed installation is more fitting for the entry—you don't feel like you're walking into the kitchen or pantry. It allows the wall, running from the entry to the lake-side deck, to read as one, as opposed to a series of segmented pieces."
"The low-VOC stain on the cabinets was selected to match an antique family heirloom." The lower cabinets were custom designed by ZED.
"The low-VOC stain on the cabinets was selected to match an antique family heirloom." The lower cabinets were custom designed by ZED.
From this perspective, you can see how well the pantry doors blend into the hallway. This high traffic area's floors are travertine tile and they provide stable radiant heat.
The kitchen provides plenty of work, storage, and socializing space: "The generous counter space provides ample working area for food prep, seating for everyday use, and a built-in wine rack to cradle each vintage. The result is a clean, expansive working space with friendly aesthetics and ample storage to meet the needs of any chef."
The countertops are quartz, by CaesarStone, and the cork pendant light is Alentejo by Forecast.
The countertops are quartz, by CaesarStone, and the cork pendant light is Alentejo by Forecast.
How to choose materials for a sustainable home? "Materials were selected with durability, low maintenance, and of course, aesthetics in mind. The exterior is clad in a combination of fiber cement board and cedar siding. Inside, the well-traveled paths connecting the entries to the home are delineated in stone, while the remaining living spaces feature bamboo flooring."
"The vibrant red and orange façade colors were inspired by the site’s autumnal color palette, while the Cape Cod location influenced the selection of shiplapped cedar siding."
The design also prioritized maximizing use of outdoor space: "The covered porch provides a great outdoor space with protection from the elements. It’s the perfect place to be during both harsh sunny days and warm summer rains. The lake-side deck that extends off of the covered porch is bordered by a double step to grade. It’s a great place to site and eliminates the need for a handrail."
The wooden steps serve a second duty as seating for family gatherings.
While we can clearly see some of the sustainable moves made here, I asked Stephanie to tell us some more about other ecologically friendly aspects in the design that we can't see in pictures:
"The high performance building envelope consists of spray foam and rigid insulation, which provides an air tight wall free of thermal bridging. The home’s HVAC system provides exceptional performance with a high efficiency condensing boiler and radiant floor heating. Indoor air quality is maintained with an allergen filtration system and a heat recovery ventilator, which provides fresh air but minimizes energy losses by exchanging heat between incoming and outgoing air streams. Finally, the home’s photovoltaic panels offset one-third of the home’s electricity use...thus the home uses 60% less energy than a code-built equivalent home."
While we can clearly see some of the sustainable moves made here, I asked Stephanie to tell us some more about other ecologically friendly aspects in the design that we can't see in pictures:
"The high performance building envelope consists of spray foam and rigid insulation, which provides an air tight wall free of thermal bridging. The home’s HVAC system provides exceptional performance with a high efficiency condensing boiler and radiant floor heating. Indoor air quality is maintained with an allergen filtration system and a heat recovery ventilator, which provides fresh air but minimizes energy losses by exchanging heat between incoming and outgoing air streams. Finally, the home’s photovoltaic panels offset one-third of the home’s electricity use...thus the home uses 60% less energy than a code-built equivalent home."
The exterior is a dynamic assemblage of shapes that is further enhanced by the variations in color and materials; I had to ask Stephanie explains how this all works:
"The home’s modern exterior is composed of three forms delineated by both geometry and material. The first floor consists of the Red box, which features the kitchen, living room, breakfast nook, and the Orange Box, which includes the first floor bedrooms and full bath. The second floor Cedar Box houses the master suite and study. The Cedar Box’s cantilevered placement over the Orange Box and its roofline optimally shade the south-facing windows. The relationship between the orange and red forms allows for a front entry that leads directly to the lake front deck."
"The home’s modern exterior is composed of three forms delineated by both geometry and material. The first floor consists of the Red box, which features the kitchen, living room, breakfast nook, and the Orange Box, which includes the first floor bedrooms and full bath. The second floor Cedar Box houses the master suite and study. The Cedar Box’s cantilevered placement over the Orange Box and its roofline optimally shade the south-facing windows. The relationship between the orange and red forms allows for a front entry that leads directly to the lake front deck."
"The floating vanity opens up the floor area in a small bathroom, leaving an uninterrupted floor
surface and giving the bathroom a more spacious feel."
surface and giving the bathroom a more spacious feel."
Here are some product details to help you get the look of these beautiful bathrooms:
Bathtub by Maxx
Shower and lavatory fixtures by Dornbracht and Kohler
Lavatories by Duravit and Lacava
Water closets by Toto
Tile by Urban Archaeology & Ann Sacks
Bathtub by Maxx
Shower and lavatory fixtures by Dornbracht and Kohler
Lavatories by Duravit and Lacava
Water closets by Toto
Tile by Urban Archaeology & Ann Sacks
Rapidly renewable bamboo was used for much of the flooring. This is vertical grain bamboo flooring by Teragren.
"The new home offers year round living, continues the legacy of a modern artistic home, and enhances the connection with the outdoor environment."
This project was a perfect pairing of clients and architects. The home received LEED Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council, earning points for energy efficiency, renewable energy, healthy indoor air quality, sustainable materials, and numerous other features. It's a great example of how to create a home that is functional, sustainable, and beautiful.
More: 20 Spectacular Beach Houses
Browse beach-house photos
This project was a perfect pairing of clients and architects. The home received LEED Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council, earning points for energy efficiency, renewable energy, healthy indoor air quality, sustainable materials, and numerous other features. It's a great example of how to create a home that is functional, sustainable, and beautiful.
More: 20 Spectacular Beach Houses
Browse beach-house photos