- Year: 2009
Text description provided by the architects. Set on an area called “Mount Misery” because it is close to a street named Misery Lane, this house is now setting the wave of renovations to imitate it, as lawyers are trying to change the street name, which if done, will double the property valuations overnight.
This existing house was re-designed to connect the exterior with the interior spaces. The gardens and forested exterior areas are the appeal of the context which were activated by opening up sidewalls, creating porches, connecting them with decks, terraces and stairs, and bringing as much light as possible into the house, and by doing so, bringing in also the green views.
The exterior decks and stairs also blend the different elevations of the exterior grade in a way that enhances the flow rather than obstruct it.
Although not LEED certified the house was equipped with green ideas in mind such as solar paneling on the roofs, rain water collection for grey waters, environmentally sound materials such as cork and recycled wood-acrylic composites, and energy efficient appliances, and HVAC systems. All exterior wood work such as decks, pergolas and stairs was fabricated with reclaimed-recycled woods.
Interiors are a designed to provide a calm, peaceful, and natural environment.
This contemporary approach for an otherwise uneventful house has allowed the house to become vibrant, current, and for all for a very limited budget. Every material used is in the low end of the price range, but with intelligent choices and combinations they appear to be more than the addition of its parts.
