Case
Study: West Austin Historic
District Home
Hurt Partners Architects
Project Goals
The goals for this project were to preserve the historic charm of the house as viewed from the street, create more spacious living quarters, provide a carport on the sloped site while preserving the character of the house, and achieve a 5-star Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) rating. Another goal is for the home to produce as much energy as it uses each year, making it a zero-net annual energy use building.
| West Austin Historic District Home |
5-Star |
July 2009 |
$330/ft2 |
Project Team |
Company Name |
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Architect |
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Contractor |
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Subcontractor |
Powell Landscape Architecture |
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Other |
Meridian Solar |
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Other |
Honea Woodworks |
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Project Description
This remodel and contemporary addition balance historic character with modern convenience to provide a comfortable, very energy efficient urban home. Even though the addition is contemporary, it complements the character of the house and fits in with the neighborhood. To help maintain the home’s character and reduce waste, the architects reused the house’s original front rails and wood flooring for the exterior soffits.
Several features work together to create an energy efficient, highly sustainable home. For example, the Galvalume® roof not only has a 6.3 kW solar array but also collects rainwater which is stored in a 2,000 gallon cistern at the back of the site. The roof’s deep overhangs shade new window and door openings. All walls, floors, ceilings, and crawl spaces are foam insulated to create a sealed environment impervious to heat and moisture.
The interior features alternately personal and dramatic interlocking spaces using a cabinet system, bridges, skylights, and mirrors. The cabinet system and these interlocking spaces visually and physically connect the old and the new.
This home has been a 1920s bungalow, a rental triplex, and now an urban family residence. It continues to evolve with its owners, the neighborhood, and Austin, while preserving the memories of the past.
Project Results
The house passed all required testing, including the blower door test and air systems test (flow, pressure, return air, etc.) with no problems or performance concerns. Now that they have moved in, the owners will analyze their energy use to determine if this will truly be a zero-net energy use home.
Project Features
| Energy:
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6.3 kW solar electric system
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622 sq.ft./ton HVAC system
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High R-value foam insulation; spray foam in 2x6 structure to seal environment from exterior
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High R-value window systems
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All fluorescent lighting with extensive day lighting for very low energy requirements
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All HVAC ductwork in conditioned space for highest efficiency possible
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Zoned HVAC system
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| Materials:
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Tear drop siding, stone, and stucco envelope
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Galvalume® standing seam metal roof
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Original wood flooring re-used for exterior wood soffits
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Recycled composite decking material used for significant areas of exterior deck
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| Water:
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2,000 gallon rainwater harvesting system used for irrigation
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Tankless water heater
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Low water use fixtures, toilets, dishwasher, and washing machine
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| Community:
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Close to shopping, restaurants, public transportation, and parks to limit driving
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New sidewalk added to encourage street interaction with neighbors
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Low water use landscaping; most planting is native with very little turf grass. Rainwater collection system provides all irrigation
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All trees protected; care taken to save weakened trees. No tree loss caused by construction
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