This project won in the 2013 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Housing Excellence Award for Best Urban Renewal Renovation Project. The glass bowl was made in the glass studio owned by the owner which is adjacent to the residence. The mirror is a repurposed window. The door is repurposed from a boarding house. George Mendel

Example of a trendy kitchen design in San Francisco with an island

Country stone porch idea in New York with a roof extension

Tuscan white two-story stucco gable roof photo in Dallas

Rather than starting with an outcome in mind, this 1,400 square foot residence began from a polemic place - exploring shared conviction regarding the concentrated power of living with a smaller footprint. From the gabled silhouette to passive ventilation, the home captures the nostalgia for the past with the sustainable practices of the future. While the exterior materials contrast a calm, minimal palette with the sleek lines of the gabled silhouette, the interior spaces embody a playful, artistic spirit. From the hand painted De Gournay wallpaper in the master bath to the rugged texture of the over-grouted limestone and Portuguese cobblestones, the home is an experience that encapsulates the unexpected and the timeless.

Kitchen - country l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor kitchen idea in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Photo: Jason Snyder © 2013 Houzz
Cottage hallway photo with white walls

A rain chain collects roof runoff and delivers it to the rain garden. The rain garden collects water and lets it soak into the ground slowly, so it doesn't run off into nearby waterways.

Bathroom - mid-sized contemporary master gray tile and mosaic tile mosaic tile floor and white floor bathroom idea in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white walls, a vessel sink and marble countertops

At Abbe Builders in Thousand Oaks, we combine market strategy, creative vision, and effective execution to deliver new construction services that meet your requirement. Our team’s knowledge and in-depth understanding of market dynamics, together with our expertise in zoning, design, and construction enable us to reduce all the hassles of new construction. New Construction Service in Thousand Oaks, CA- http://www.abbebuilders.com/

At Abbe Builders in Thousand Oaks, we combine market strategy, creative vision, and effective execution to deliver new construction services that meet your requirement. Our team’s knowledge and in-depth understanding of market dynamics, together with our expertise in zoning, design, and construction enable us to reduce all the hassles of new construction. New Construction Service in Thousand Oaks, CA - http://www.abbebuilders.com/

At Abbe Builders in Thousand Oaks, we combine market strategy, creative vision, and effective execution to deliver new construction services that meet your requirement. Our team’s knowledge and in-depth understanding of market dynamics, together with our expertise in zoning, design, and construction enable us to reduce all the hassles of new construction. New Construction Service in Thousand Oaks, CA- http://www.abbebuilders.com/

At Abbe Builders in Thousand Oaks, we combine market strategy, creative vision, and effective execution to deliver new construction services that meet your requirement. Our team’s knowledge and in-depth understanding of market dynamics, together with our expertise in zoning, design, and construction enable us to reduce all the hassles of new construction. New Construction Service in Thousand Oaks, CA - http://www.abbebuilders.com/

At Abbe Builders in Thousand Oaks, we combine market strategy, creative vision, and effective execution to deliver new construction services that meet your requirement. Our team’s knowledge and in-depth understanding of market dynamics, together with our expertise in zoning, design, and construction enable us to reduce all the hassles of new construction. New Construction Service in Thousand Oaks, CA - http://www.abbebuilders.com/

At Abbe Builders in Thousand Oaks, we combine market strategy, creative vision, and effective execution to deliver new construction services that meet your requirement. Our team’s knowledge and in-depth understanding of market dynamics, together with our expertise in zoning, design, and construction enable us to reduce all the hassles of new construction. New Construction Service in Thousand Oaks, CA - http://www.abbebuilders.com/

At Abbe Builders in Thousand Oaks, we combine market strategy, creative vision, and effective execution to deliver new construction services that meet your requirement. Our team’s knowledge and in-depth understanding of market dynamics, together with our expertise in zoning, design, and construction enable us to reduce all the hassles of new construction. New Construction Service in Thousand Oaks, CA - http://www.abbebuilders.com/

At Abbe Builders in Thousand Oaks, we combine market strategy, creative vision, and effective execution to deliver new construction services that meet your requirement. Our team’s knowledge and in-depth understanding of market dynamics, together with our expertise in zoning, design, and construction enable us to reduce all the hassles of new construction. New Construction Service in Thousand Oaks, CA- http://www.abbebuilders.com/

At Abbe Builders in Thousand Oaks, we combine market strategy, creative vision, and effective execution to deliver new construction services that meet your requirement. Our team’s knowledge and in-depth understanding of market dynamics, together with our expertise in zoning, design, and construction enable us to reduce all the hassles of new construction. New Construction Service in Thousand Oaks, CA - http://www.abbebuilders.com/

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/