Project Description

This four bedroom, four bath custom home features an open-style layout with soaring ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass, for panoramic private views out to undisturbed woodland.  The owners requested that the site be carefully protected during construction so that the house could be close to the woods, with some landscaping but no lawn. To reach the house, visitors must be admitted through a gate and cross a bridge over a small stream.

The owners both suffer from allergies.  They wanted an energy efficient house that would allow them to live in their home symptom-free.  An air-tight, well insulated thermal envelope combined with mechanical ventilation and good air filtration accomplished these goals.

Type: New Construction, Custom Green Home

This project was the subject of Ridgefield Magazine‘s article Modern Breed  (Nov/Dec 2015).

Complete article…

Special Features:

  • En suite master bath with large windows that still manages to preserve privacy
  • Automatic shades for the large windows
  • Master bedroom has a private wrap-around cantilevered deck
  • Indoor exercise pool and hot tub
  • Indoor/outdoor see-through gas fireplace
  • Radiant heat for the entire main floor
  • Stucco cladding on the entire house
  • Driveway is heated to melt winter snow

Green Building Approaches:

  • Ground floor slab sits over 3” of closed-cell spray foam
  • 2×6 exterior wall framing, with 24” spacing, plus 2x horizontal strapping to reduce thermal bridging
  • Exterior walls insulated with 7” of open-cell spray foam
  • 16” roof trusses to reduce thermal bridging, filled with open-cell spray foam insulation
  • Large windows are double-glazed with thin film technology for triple-glazed performance
  • Stucco cladding over 1/2” drainage plane for durability
  • Ground-source heat pumps for heating, cooling, and hot water
  • Energy recovery ventilation
  • High efficiency air filtration
  • Large roof overhangs keep exterior walls dry