Located on a wooded bluff overlooking the Cousins River estuary, the 1,600-square-foot Cousins River Residence strategically faces south to take advantage of solar gain. The home comprises three volumes—the main home, the screen porch, and garage connected to the home via a covered walkway—each topped with a sloped roof and clad in fiber-cement clapboard and locally milled pine. Large glazed openings and an open floor plan maximize access to natural light and outdoor views, and also help seamlessly blend the interior with the surrounding landscape.
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To achieve a near net-zero approach to energy consumption, the architects sheathed the building in a highly insulated shell with an R35 foundation, R50 walls, and R80 roof systems. Triple-glazed (R8) windows punctuate the airtight shell and help lower space heating demands and dependence on mechanical systems. An 88%-efficient heat recovery ventilation system and a 4.6kW photovoltaic array help to further offset energy needs.
+ GO Logic
Via ArchDaily
Images via GO Logic, © Trent Bell
