Lori Bork Newcomer of Bork Architectural Design completely dispels the idea that green building is too expensive for the ordinary person with this gorgeous gabled LEED Platinum home in Athens, Georgia that only cost $125 per square foot to build. The first of its kind in the state's liveliest college town, the Newcomer house fuses modern green design with the neighborhood's vernacular to ensure that it fits within its unique cultural and historical context. An energy-efficient day lit wonder built in part with locally sourced and recycled materials, this home sets a whole new bar for eco architecture in America's famed south!
We would need about 5 pages to list all of this project’s awesome eco-credentials, so we’ll stick with a few of the major highlights. Not only does the Newcomer house use the same amount of energy as a home 1/3 of its well-disguised 2,632 foot size, but the glass-clad front gable and large windows allow all kinds of light to penetrate the interior without too much solar gain.
Clad in Tennessee fieldstone, stucco and white clapboard in keeping with the southern cottage style so prevalent in the region, the home also boasts reclaimed heart pine floors and fixtures made from salvaged barn wood. Extreme air tightness and insulation combined with a reflective roof and energy star windows further ensure that this home will never usurp more than its fair share of energy resources. Water is solar-heated, and a low emissions wood burning stove keeps the house warm in winter. This is only the 7th home in Georgia to receiving the USGBC’s platinum confidence!
