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When a professional couple from the building industry began planning for retirement, they knew an innovative design firm was needed to address their challenges. She held a governmental energy position, while he was a long term construction consultant. With far more construction related education than a typical client, they selected the skill set of ZeroEnergy Design (ZED) to create their new home.
The Site
Recently, the couple purchased a 196 acre parcel of rolling land in rural Kentucky, including both cleared and forested areas. They desired a small and efficient main residence, a guest cottage for visitors, a barn, and a garage/workshop. The site plan for this compound evolved from the topography, the optimal orientations for energy performance, and the natural views available on the site.
The Residence
For this work in progress, a contemporary rural aesthetic was developed with a combination of simplicity, innovative spatial arrangements, and rustic materials. Ceiling height variation helps define different areas within the great room. Site lines capture views using windows optimized for passive ventilation. A screened porch extends the dining space to bring in the outdoors, while the open dogtrot to the guest cottage provides a second shaded space to take in the most appealing views on the site. The laundry room doubles as a safe room to provide a secure location in the event of a tornado. Built-in casework creates seamless storage spaces throughout the home.
The home design is a reflection of the couple's key priorities, including outstanding passive energy performance, healthy indoor air quality, long term durability, safety from extreme weather events, and use of local materials. The resulting home when completed will be healthier, less expensive to operate, and minimize impact upon the environment.
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