The mid-century explosion of ranch style homes across the country and the style's subsequent decline in popularity has left us with a large homogenous stock of housing vulnerable to tear downs, MacMansion-ing, radical tampering and other unfortunate expediencies. Rapidly urbanizing growth is now surrounding this home’s formerly suburban neighborhood (just outside of downtown Atlanta). As urbanization continues the large lots and mature landscaping become more and more desirable. After touring this long-time owner’s home, property and neighborhood we recommended retaining the existing character and structure. Our final solution for renovation and additions:
(1) Satisfies the Owners’ desires to bring order to a chaotic plan and open the home to the beauty of their beautiful wooded lot
(2) Respects the style of the house and contributes a readily visible example to the existing neighborhood of similar ranch style houses that additions and renovations can be adapted to current lifestyles while remaining true to their original character.
The site's most notable feature is an deep lot sloping down to creek with many mature trees. Their primary request was extensive glass on the back of the house coupled with a deck off of the living areas facing south into the stunning site. Our solution reorganizes the floor plan to their intended lifestyle, opens view corridors through the house in order to visually expand the size of the rooms (2,200 square feet of conditioned space) and successfully extend them into the landscape.
Gardening is a favorite occupation of both owners and a large deck with room for outdoor dining and container plantings stepping down to the backyard was essential, as was a potting shed and storage located below the deck.
Sustainable features include:
• Renovation of an existing house opposed to a tear-down and new house.
• Insulated and de-vented crawl space; installed vapor barrier, radon venting systems and insulated ducts.
• Geothermal heat pump system with vertical geothermal wells installed below the new driveway for heating, cooling and hot water. Energy recovery ventilator system installed.
• Existing oak flooring and brick veneer - salvaged and re-used
• High albedo standing seam metal roofing
• EarthCraft Certification
• Low or no V.O.C. materials and finishes throughout
• Waste landfill diversion program
• True stucco exterior finishes
• Thermally broken aluminum storefront, doors and windows with low-E coatings and solar heat gain coefficient exceeding energy code requirements.
• Existing eaves are extended to provide additional shading of glazed areas in summer.
Photo Credit: Fredrik Brauer
View Original