This green building called 100K House, a urban infill houses and LEED for Homes Platinum is located in Philadelphia and was designed by ISA, Interface Studio Architects. Interface Studio Architects has conceived four versions of the 100K House thus far. Three of the quartet are intended to fit a typical 16-foot-wide Philadelphia lot, and they all include a mechanical core around which different interior environments are arranged, including a loft-like space, a more compartmentalized family scenario, and a live-work setup that features a completely open first floor. The fourth 100K House is intended for even skinnier land parcels, with its mechanical and circulation core entirely shifted to one side.

These homes will be for sale once they break ground and the expected asking price will be around $200 – $250K. These houses are an attempt to meet the demand of average income consumers dreaming of a modern yet healthy and sustainable home. The team has placed a high priority on modern architectural design and cost effective green building. In order to build an affordable home, the focus is on providing the best building envelope and mechanical design rather than on high-end finishes. The 100K Houses already complete are both loft designs, adapted to 18-foot-wide plots. Exterior claddings switch, too. HardiePanel sheets are mounted from the first two 100K Houses, while subsequent houses can be wrapped in HardiePanel on which the architects may be able to print text or graphics, HardiePlank, or brick.

What makes this concept green? Further rethinking of the fundamentals. For instance, the 100K House measures a scant 1,100 square feet. From there, the architects specified construction with structural insulated panels and equally robust windows to minimize mechanical systems. Each house includes a heat recovery ventilator that circulates fresh air among occupants without penetrating this tight thermal envelope. The pair of houses currently nearing completion meet Passivhaus criteria. All 100K Houses also should earn LEED-Platinum certification. “Should” is operative: Since each building will retail for approximately $250,000, in the spirit of affordability the homeowner can choose whether to pursue LEED certification and shoulder that additional expense.

Some of the following green aspects: solar thermal hot water, rainwater collection, low-flow fixtures and dual flush toilets, radiant in floor heating, efficient CFL lighting, efficient envelope made with SIPs, low- or no-VOC paints and finishes, and ivy green wall with drought-tolerant landscaping. In collaboration with Postgreen, Interface Studio Architects is developing a production housing line that is focused on the modest, green, urban infill market. The homes range in size from 800-1400 SF and rely on both standard features and user customization. The first two houses have been built and we expect quite a few more to roll-out in the next 18 months. Green Source just recognized the townhouse prototype as the Best Green House of August 2009. A townhouse prototype demonstrates that sustainability needn’t cost a premium.

Info:
Site Built Meets Prefab, Hybrid Design for Local, Efficient and Green Home Delivery..
SIP Envelope: Structurally Insulated Panels prefabricated in local shops to exact specs deliver superior envelope at reduced cost and complexity.
Design for Green Upgrades: Designed to easily accommodate future sustainable upgrades such as Solar Thermal, PV, green roofs, rainwater reclamation, etc.
Prefabricated Internals: Prefabricated interior framing and/or entire bath, kitchen and closet modules.
Prefab Foundation: Foundation simplified by prefabricated concrete walls, ICF’s and/or advanced pier technology.
Prefabricated Stairs: Prefabricated Stairs built locally using sustainable materials and finishes.
Window and Door: Manufactured to spec in local shops using extruded fiberglass frames and Energy Star glass coatings.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 6:15 pm and is filed under Green Home, House Award. Tags: Building engineering, Energy in the United States, Environmental design, extruded fiberglass frames, green building, Green House, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Low-energy building, mechanical systems, Passive house, Philadelphia, pier technology, Prefab Foundation, Prefabrication, sustainable building, sustainable house. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.