Contemporary Design in Detail: Sustainable Environments

81

Above Left Flaps at the base and top of the

glass channels control air intake. During

the winter, they are closed so that the sun

warms the air within—and thus the inte-

rior—through radiation. Even without warm

air ducted to the second fl oor, the interior

temperature is often 50 degrees warmer than

the winter air outside. Top and bottom fl aps

are opened during the summer so that the

exterior air circulates up through the wall in

the manner of a solar chimney.  e frog pond

immediately below helps cool the air that is

drawn in at the base of the glass wall.

Environmental Interface

82 Sustainable Environments

Pill Maharam Architects, Great Bay

Residence, Newmarket, New Hampshire,

United States

Unlike a true passive solar house, this resi-

dence is solar-tempered: Sunlight heats the

structure but is not stored.  e tempered

house contains less thermal mass but must

balance a number of functions (insulation, air

tightness, heat recovery) to achieve energy

effi ciency.  e south façade has argon-fi lled

low-e aluminum-clad windows for passive

solar heat gain and a high roof overhang for

shading. Large glulam beams supporting

the roof create an open plan in the interior,

which allows the southern sun to warm the

entire space. Operable clerestory windows

exhaust the hot air.

83

Environmental Interface

Above Left As in a passive system, the build-

ing orientation is critical. Set on a ridge on an

east-west axis, the house consists of two bars

that bend toward the southwest along natural

topographical contours to follow the sun’s

path.  e solar features are combined with

a geothermal heating system that circulates

well water through the house, using a heat

pump to bring the water to the appropriate

interior temperature. Even the air condition-

ing (seldom used due to the natural cooling)

is run from the geothermal system.  e water

also provides hydronic radiant heating. With

all environmental features considered, in-

cluding renewable fi nishes, the house earned

a fi ve-star Energy Star rating.

Left  e amount of sunlight to be admitted

through the southern window during the

fall and spring determined the depth of the

roof overhang. Even as the overhang pro-

vides shade in summer and light in winter,

its details may be fi nessed to allow specifi c

amounts of solar gain during the temperate

seasons.  e glulam beams are supported

by posts let into metal brackets. Durable

metal is incorporated elsewhere as vertical

siding and standing seam steel roofi ng.  e

low-slope metal roof is appropriate in the

cool climate of New Hampshire as well as in

warmer regions. Like the walls, it is highly

insulated.

SB-07C-SMA-FPO

steel column el. 16'-6" (5 m)

glulam beam el. 12'-10

1

/

2

" (3.9 m)

2" x 8" (50.8 x 203.2 mm) header w/

1" (24.4 mm) rigid insulation, set w/in cavity

glulam wood beam

exterior wood siding

steel mounting plate for steel brace insert

window unit

BBS fi nish

3

/

4

” (19.1 mm) sheathing at this band

wall only

R21 fi berglass insul.

sliding glass doors

reinforced concrete deck w/ exposed

aggregate surface

fi rst fi n. fl r. el. 0'-0" (0 m)

basement fi n. fl r. el. -9'-0" (-2.74 m)

2" (50.8 mm) blocking/insulation barrier

84 Sustainable Environments

Battersby Howat Architects,

Gulf Island Residence,

Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

Function and aestheics come together in a

house whose strong formal expression meets

with environmental effi ciency. A wide stretch

of storefront glass (with argon fi ll and low-e

coating) allows for passive solar gain but also

maintains ample light levels in the overcast

West Coast climate. A pair of cantilevered

forms—3 feet (.91 meters) each at the fi rst

fl oor and roof overhang—shades the level

below.  e aluminum storefront and the zinc

roof were chosen for their low maintenance

and stability in the coastal climate.

85

Above Fewer openings on the north and

east elevations guard against heat loss and

provide a measure of privacy from the road

and neighboring homes.  e wood rain-

screen cladding appears in sheltered areas of

the house to create a more human scale and

texture at the entries.

Environmental Interface