Project Description

This new home took the place of a tear-down on a prime lower Fairfield County building site.  The intriguing design features a single front gable, accented prominently by a cantilevered and curved 2nd floor overhang that also shelters the front door.  Gracious interior rooms feature built-in’s and wainscoting and have been designed to include generous window areas for natural daylighting.

Project Architect: Trillium Architects 

Special Features:

  • Open concept layout on main floor
  • Gourmet kitchen with large island and stool seating
  • Large walk-in pantry with built-in shelving
  • Formal dining room
  • Built-in bar area adjoining dining room
  • En suite master bedroom
  • Screened sleeping porch on 2nd floor
  • Screened porch and Ipe deck

Green Building Approaches:

  • Large gable roof faces solar south to capture winter heat and is ready for PV panels
  • Pre-cast concrete stud-wall foundation uses much less concrete and embodies energy
  • 2” of extruded polystyrene under the slab
  • Open-web engineered floor trusses
  • 2×6 wall framing with 24” spacing, insulated with 0.8lb SPF, plus 1” structural insulated sheathing to reduce thermal bridging
  • 2×12 rafter framing with 24” spacing, plus 2×3 cross-strapping to reduce thermal bridging
  • Rafters insulated with 2” of 2lb spray foam and 11” of 0.8lb spray foam
  • Sheathing tapes used to achieve exceptional air-tightness of 0.9ACH50
  • American triple-glazed windows with U-values of 0.27
  • FSC certified white oak flooring
  • Fiber cement siding shingles
  • Composite exterior trim
  • Ground-source heat pump is highest efficiency mechanical option
  • Condensing, natural gas, tankless water heater
  • Energy recovery ventilation
  • Low-flow plumbing fixtures
  • Rainwater harvesting