Tassel fern. Photo by Jay Sifford.
Inspiration for an eclectic landscaping in Charlotte.

ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) created this modern home for a progressive family in the desirable community of Lexington. Thoughtful Land Connection. The residence is carefully sited on the infill lot so as to create privacy from the road and neighbors, while cultivating a side yard that captures the southern sun. The terraced grade rises to meet the house, allowing for it to maintain a structured connection with the ground while also sitting above the high water table. The elevated outdoor living space maintains a strong connection with the indoor living space, while the stepped edge ties it back to the true ground plane. Siting and outdoor connections were completed by ZED in collaboration with landscape designer Soren Deniord Design Studio. Exterior Finishes and Solar. The exterior finish materials include a palette of shiplapped wood siding, through-colored fiber cement panels and stucco. A rooftop parapet hides the solar panels above, while a gutter and site drainage system directs rainwater into an irrigation cistern and dry wells that recharge the groundwater. Cooking, Dining, Living. Inside, the kitchen, fabricated by Henrybuilt, is located between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. The expansive south-facing sliding door opens to seamlessly connect the spaces, using a retractable awning to provide shade during the summer while still admitting the warming winter sun. The indoor living space continues from the dining areas across to the sunken living area, with a view that returns again to the outside through the corner wall of glass. Accessible Guest Suite. The design of the first level guest suite provides for both aging in place and guests who regularly visit for extended stays. The patio off the north side of the house affords guests their own private outdoor space, and privacy from the neighbor. Similarly, the second level master suite opens to an outdoor private roof deck. Light and Access. The wide open interior stair with a glass panel rail leads from the top level down to the well insulated basement. The design of the basement, used as an away/play space, addresses the need for both natural light and easy access. In addition to the open stairwell, light is admitted to the north side of the area with a high performance, Passive House (PHI) certified skylight, covering a six by sixteen foot area. On the south side, a unique roof hatch set flush with the deck opens to reveal a glass door at the base of the stairwell which provides additional light and access from the deck above down to the play space. Energy. Energy consumption is reduced by the high performance building envelope, high efficiency mechanical systems, and then offset with renewable energy. All windows and doors are made of high performance triple paned glass with thermally broken aluminum frames. The exterior wall assembly employs dense pack cellulose in the stud cavity, a continuous air barrier, and four inches exterior rigid foam insulation. The 10kW rooftop solar electric system provides clean energy production. The final air leakage testing yielded 0.6 ACH 50 - an extremely air tight house, a testament to the well-designed details, progress testing and quality construction. When compared to a new house built to code requirements, this home consumes only 19% of the energy. Architecture & Energy Consulting: ZeroEnergy Design Landscape Design: Soren Deniord Design Paintings: Bernd Haussmann Studio Photos: Eric Roth Photography

Kitchen - traditional kitchen idea in Chicago

We created this beautiful accessible bathroom in Carlsbad to give our client a more functional space. We designed this unique bath, specific to the client's specifications to make it more wheel chair accessible. Features such as the roll in shower, roll up vanity and the ability to use her chair for flexibility over the fixed wall mounted seat allow her to be more independent in this bathroom. Safety was another significant factor for the room. We added support bars in all areas and with maximum flexibility to allow the client to perform all bathing functions independently, and all were positioned after carefully recreating her movements. We met the objectives of functionality and safety without compromising beauty in this aging in place bathroom. Travertine-look porcelain tile was used in a large format on the shower walls to minimize grout lines and maximize ease of maintenance. A crema marfil marble mosaic in an elongated hex pattern was used in the shower room for it’s beauty and flexibility in sloped shower. A custom cabinet was made to the height ideal for our client’s use of the sink and a protective panel placed over the pea trap.

The Sunset West Havana Swivel Club Rocker delivers luxurious comfort, timeless style, and smooth, soothing movement—all in one beautifully designed piece. Perfect for patios, porches, and poolside lounges, this rocker captures the spirit of outdoor living with its natural texture and elegant proportions. Expertly handwoven in premium all-weather resin wicker, the Havana features a rich Aged Tobacco finish that complements any outdoor decor. Its durable powder-coated aluminum frame ensures long-lasting performance, while the swivel rocker base adds a gentle rocking motion that invites you to sit back and stay awhile.

Photography by John Gibbons This project is designed as a family retreat for a client that has been visiting the southern Colorado area for decades. The cabin consists of two bedrooms and two bathrooms – with guest quarters accessed from exterior deck. Project by Studio H:T principal in charge Brad Tomecek (now with Tomecek Studio Architecture). The project is assembled with the structural and weather tight use of shipping containers. The cabin uses one 40’ container and six 20′ containers. The ends will be structurally reinforced and enclosed with additional site built walls and custom fitted high-performance glazing assemblies.

Our client’s goal was to create a small, high-performance, healthy home for herself and her teenage son while providing a place for her father to age in place. An attached private accessory dwelling provides a space for him as well as flexibility in the future. The new home was designed to minimize its footprint on site, made smaller than the original 1930’s house. Embracing adaptability and efficiency, the residence includes two dwellings: a one-bedroom 795 square-foot accessory dwelling at the lower grade and a two-story 1330 square-foot primary dwelling located above. Involved in all aspects of project execution, our client oversaw the process by living in a used trailer parked in the backyard throughout the project’s construction. Family-Share focused on maximizing the footprint’s performance, access to natural light and the health of the occupants. Sustainable features include high-performance glazing, solar preheat for domestic and hot water in-floor heating and reclaimed fir car decking rainscreen siding.

The homeowners of this home outside Savannah, Georgia wanted something small-ish that would meet their desire to host guests, but also meet their future age-in-place needs. Despite its low profile, the property boasts an impressive footprint that includes two outbuildings, a garage and guest house, and a centuries-old live oak tree. The design and build team used products from the Marvin Ultimate collection to achieve the level of customization and traditional styling they wanted for this Southern new build. The collection’s build and performance ratings were also an advantage for this waterfront home against the temperamental coastal weather. “The magic of a house like this is when the relationships come together. There are a few partners we have that we feel like are more tangible partners. Marvin is one of those,” said Josh Brooks, owner of Brooks Construction Group, LLC.

The homeowners of this home outside Savannah, Georgia wanted something small-ish that would meet their desire to host guests, but also meet their future age-in-place needs. Despite its low profile, the property boasts an impressive footprint that includes two outbuildings, a garage and guest house, and a centuries-old live oak tree. The design and build team used products from the Marvin Ultimate collection to achieve the level of customization and traditional styling they wanted for this Southern new build. The collection’s build and performance ratings were also an advantage for this waterfront home against the temperamental coastal weather. “The magic of a house like this is when the relationships come together. There are a few partners we have that we feel like are more tangible partners. Marvin is one of those,” said Josh Brooks, owner of Brooks Construction Group, LLC.

I was enlisted to design a nursery for first time parents. Our starting point was white and greys and a love for elephants. The room is small with high ceilings and we had to make every inch counts… sounds familier, I know. Material pallette for this nursery is so textural and swoonworthy. With a feature bubble chandelier anchoring the room and a mix of shagreen, velvet, aged and acrylic, we created a very modern feature nursery. I create this feature wall by installing this beautiful wallpaper. The high ceilings in the apartment really make the space look and feel larger than it is. The ceiling height called for a custom statement chandelier. And this beautiful crib with upholstered side panels and aged brass legs. The room is grounded by this plush performance rug in soft white. I love how different greys and whites and textures unite the space!! Detailed shot of the bookshelf we styled for the shoot. We have three elephants in this shot and thats because our mama bear loves them. Some eco friendly wooden toys and mini plush of the family furry friend completes this one.

At the top of the slope, a dining area and BBQ invites the family to dine al fresco on mild California nights, right next to a bountiful garden of raised beds for growing veggies and herbs for cooking. On the next terrace, a shaded gathering space features curved seating which opens up to the soccer stadium below, where kids and canines of all ages perform. A concrete bench and wood timbers are the local climbing gym, and custom, locally fabricated shade sails provide cover from the midday sun.

The homeowners of this home outside Savannah, Georgia wanted something small-ish that would meet their desire to host guests, but also meet their future age-in-place needs. Despite its low profile, the property boasts an impressive footprint that includes two outbuildings, a garage and guest house, and a centuries-old live oak tree. The design and build team used products from the Marvin Ultimate collection to achieve the level of customization and traditional styling they wanted for this Southern new build. The collection’s build and performance ratings were also an advantage for this waterfront home against the temperamental coastal weather. “The magic of a house like this is when the relationships come together. There are a few partners we have that we feel like are more tangible partners. Marvin is one of those,” said Josh Brooks, owner of Brooks Construction Group, LLC.

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

View from kitchen through living room to lake view and nature. Cabinets and flooring made from the few trees that came down for the project: Recycle, Reuse. Poured-in-place concrete countertops with inlaid lake stones and pebbles. 2 story space allows visibility of not just tree trunks but the tops of the trees as well. Triple pane high performance windows keeps out winter winds.

The homeowners of this home outside Savannah, Georgia wanted something small-ish that would meet their desire to host guests, but also meet their future age-in-place needs. Despite its low profile, the property boasts an impressive footprint that includes two outbuildings, a garage and guest house, and a centuries-old live oak tree. The design and build team used products from the Marvin Ultimate collection to achieve the level of customization and traditional styling they wanted for this Southern new build. The collection’s build and performance ratings were also an advantage for this waterfront home against the temperamental coastal weather. “The magic of a house like this is when the relationships come together. There are a few partners we have that we feel like are more tangible partners. Marvin is one of those,” said Josh Brooks, owner of Brooks Construction Group, LLC.

At the top of the slope, a dining area and BBQ invites the family to dine al fresco on mild California nights, right next to a bountiful garden of raised beds for growing veggies and herbs for cooking. On the next terrace, a shaded gathering space features curved seating which opens up to the soccer stadium below, where kids and canines of all ages perform. A concrete bench and wood timbers are the local climbing gym, and custom, locally fabricated shade sails provide cover from the midday sun.

The homeowners of this home outside Savannah, Georgia wanted something small-ish that would meet their desire to host guests, but also meet their future age-in-place needs. Despite its low profile, the property boasts an impressive footprint that includes two outbuildings, a garage and guest house, and a centuries-old live oak tree. The design and build team used products from the Marvin Ultimate collection to achieve the level of customization and traditional styling they wanted for this Southern new build. The collection’s build and performance ratings were also an advantage for this waterfront home against the temperamental coastal weather. “The magic of a house like this is when the relationships come together. There are a few partners we have that we feel like are more tangible partners. Marvin is one of those,” said Josh Brooks, owner of Brooks Construction Group, LLC.

At the top of the slope, a dining area and BBQ invites the family to dine al fresco on mild California nights, right next to a bountiful garden of raised beds for growing veggies and herbs for cooking. On the next terrace, a shaded gathering space features curved seating which opens up to the soccer stadium below, where kids and canines of all ages perform. A concrete bench and wood timbers are the local climbing gym, and custom, locally fabricated shade sails provide cover from the midday sun.

This LEED Platinum certified house reflects the homeowner's desire for an exceptionally healthy and comfortable living environment, within a traditional neighborhood. INFILL SITE. The family, who moved from another area of Wellesley, sought out this property to be within walking distance of the high school and downtown area. An existing structure on the tight lot was removed to make way for the new home. 84% of the construction waste, from both the previous structure and the new home, was diverted from a landfill. ZED designed to preserve the existing mature trees on the perimeter of the property to minimize site impacts, and to maintain the character of the neighborhood as well as privacy on the site. EXTERIOR EXPRESSION. The street facade of the home relates to the local New England vernacular. The rear uses contemporary language, a nod to the family’s Californian roots, to incorporate a roof deck, solar panels, outdoor living space, and the backyard swimming pool. ZED’s careful planning avoided to the need to face the garage doors towards the street, a common syndrome of a narrow lot. THOUGHTFUL SPACE. Homes with dual entries can often result in duplicate and unused spaces. In this home, the everyday and formal entry areas are one and the same; the front and garage doors share the entry program of coat closets, mudroom storage with bench for removing your shoes, and a laundry room with generous closets for the children's sporting equipment. The entry area leads directly to the living space, encompassing the kitchen, dining and sitting area areas in an L-shaped open plan arrangement. The kitchen is placed at the south-west corner of the space to allow for a strong connection to the dining, sitting and outdoor living spaces. A fire pit on the deck satisfies the family’s desire for an open flame while a sealed gas fireplace is used indoors - ZED’s preference after omitting gas burning appliances completely from an airtight home. A small study, with a window seat, is conveniently located just off of the living space. A first floor guest bedroom includes an accessible bathroom for aging visitors and can be used as a master suite to accommodate aging in place. HEALTHY LIVING. The client requested a home that was easy to clean and would provide a respite from seasonal allergies and common contaminants that are found in many indoor spaces. ZED selected easy to clean solid surface flooring throughout, provided ample space for cleaning supplies on each floor, and designed a mechanical system with ventilation that provides a constant supply of fresh outdoor air. ZED selected durable materials, finishes, cabinetry, and casework with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no added urea formaldehyde. YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. The home is super insulated and air-tight, paired with high performance triple-paned windows, to ensure it is draft-free throughout the winter (even when in front of the large windows and doors). ZED designed a right-sized heating and cooling system to pair with the thermally improved building enclosure to ensure year-round comfort. The glazing on the home maximizes passive solar gains, and facilitates cross ventilation and daylighting. ENERGY EFFICIENT. As one of the most energy efficient houses built to date in Wellesley, the home highlights a practical solution for Massachusetts. First, the building enclosure reduces the largest energy requirement for typical houses (heating). Super-insulation, exceptional air sealing, a thermally broken wall assembly, triple pane windows, and passive solar gain combine for a sizable heating load reduction. Second, within the house only efficient systems consume energy. These include an air source heat pump for heating & cooling, a heat pump hot water heater, LED lighting, energy recovery ventilation, and high efficiency appliances. Lastly, photovoltaics provide renewable energy help offset energy consumption. The result is an 89% reduction in energy use compared to a similar brand new home built to code requirements. RESILIENT. The home will fare well in extreme weather events. During a winter power outage, heat loss will be very slow due to the super-insulated and airtight envelope– taking multiple days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. An engineered drainage system, paired with careful the detailing of the foundation, will help to keep the finished basement dry. A generator will provide full operation of the all-electric house during a power outage. OVERALL. The home is a reflection of the family goals and an expression of their values, beautifully enabling health, comfort, safety, resilience, and utility, all while respecting the planet. ZED - Architect & Mechanical Designer Bevilacqua Builders Inc - Contractor Creative Land & Water Engineering - Civil Engineering Barbara Peterson Landscape - Landscape Design Nest & Company - Interior Furnishings Eric Roth Photography - Photography