This house is in a historic neighborhood a short walk from a grocery store, grade school a community center, and the cultural vibrancy of downtown Lawrence, Kansas. The unassuming gable form, 2,000 sf house runs the length of a narrow corner lot and opens away from the traffic of 13th Street to its North, while promoting passive solar gain and daylighting through large high-performance triple paned windows along its South elevation. The standing seam roof, half round gutters, and the minimal trim detailing are all done to emphasize the visually rich texture of Alaskan yellow cedar shingles siding and to maximize the impact of the universal building form and its minimal composition.

The plan consists of a large, open Living area that is anchored by a kitchen designed for serious cooking as well as entertainment The ceiling extends all the way to the peak of the gable, and the 18′ deep walls open to a bioswale that runs the length of the south side of the house to capture storm water and support a variety of native plants. The rest of the first floor is composed of smaller bedrooms and flexible use spaces, while upstairs is a master bedroom suite that includes a balcony-like office with a view down into the living area.

This house uses minimal or no energy to operate and maintain, materials that required minimal resources to harvest. It also offers the owner the opportunity to use alternative modes of transportation, and to be part of a long-standing neighborhood and its amenities.

LEED Platinum Certified

Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) Certified