Custom New Homes, Energy Star Homes, Zero Energy Ready Homes

Rock House

Rock House blends seamlessly into a spectacular hillside site featuring a mature New England forest, giant boulders strewn randomly during the last ice age, and the West Aspetuck River which runs directly below a cantilevered deck on its way to merging with the Housatonic River in New Milford. The floor-to-ceiling glass walls of this custom contemporary create the illusion that occupants are actually outdoors while enjoying the comforts of a highly energy efficient home featuring simple but elegant interior spaces and state-of-the-art control systems.

Type: Contemporary

Project Architect: ZH Architects

Special Features

Floor-to-ceiling glass walls
Green roof featuring low-maintenance sedums and concealed gutter system
Rift-sawn European white oak book-matched paneling, cabinetry, and pocket doors
Clear, vertical grain western hemlock interior ceiling and cantilevered exterior soffits
Linear grilles in ceiling that conceal heating, ventilation, lighting, and audio systems
Cantilevered screened porch overlooking the forest and river below
Whole-house control systems for lighting, window shades, ventilation, heating/cooling, and audio/video

Green Building Approaches

Excellent blower door test result of 0.35 ACH50.
European triple-glazed doors and windows with 0.14 U-values (equivalent to R-7)
Ground-mounted solar PV system to be installed nearby which is expected to generate sufficient electricity to fully offset the energy required to operate the house.
Custom LED lighting with dimmable capabilities throughout.
Electrical panels with energy monitoring system that provides real time data on the home’s energy usage.
Split system air-to-air ducted heat pumps for space heating.
Indoor air-to-air heat pump for domestic hot water that utilizes waste heat from control systems.
Highly efficient hot water distribution system features recirculation line and manifold with individual shut-off for every fixture in the house.
Independently ducted European energy recovery ventilator for high-efficiency, continuous mechanical ventilation.
Shou Sugi Ban charred wood siding with low embodied carbon, requiring no maintenance, and very durable.
Insulation products selected to minimize home’s carbon footprint and to significantly exceed building code requirements.
Roof insulation features 18” of dense-pack cellulose insulation installed above a dropped ceiling, plus 5” or more of polyisocyanurate foam board insulation above the roof sheathing and under the green roof membrane
Basement wall insulation features closed-cell spray foam (2”) with low-GWP blowing agent, plus 3.5” dense-pack cellulose insulation.
Expanded polystyrene (10”) installed under basement slab.