Sustainable urban farmhouse
Daisy Lilley,
Posted
06/09/2011
Before this home turned into a showcase of
sustainable design as part of the International Builders Show 2011,
the design team had its own vision. The vision started with the
basics. Builders Jon Pleveich and Kim Foy, of Southern Traditions
Development Inc., Orlando, Fla., and architect Ed Binkley, AIA, of
ed binkley design llc, Oviedo, Fla., had a narrow lot-160 by 50
feet-and the desire to create something sustainable and not
typically seen in the Orlando area.
"I call it the 'urban farmhouse,'" Binkley explains. "It is a
twist on traditional Victorian style that you see a lot in Florida.
You take a pretty standard model and open up the inside of the
house so it is more like a loft home with less traditional
rooms."
What they created was a 3,000-square-foot, two-story sustainable
home with a detached garage in the College Park neighborhood of
Orlando. Binkley, Pleveich and Foy made the building experience
unique-and quite public-by getting the International Builders Show
involved. The group knew the show would be in Orlando in February
2011, so they took the appropriate steps to have their spec turn
into VISION House '11. (This is the seventh VISION House in a
series of homes that are constructed every year as part of the
educational aspect of a trade show. Visit www.greenbuildermag.com
for more information.)
Product donations quickly poured in to bring this spec to life.
But Binkley stayed focused on his vision as he reviewed materials.
One architectural feature that he believes makes the home is the
donated metal roof from Fabral, Lancaster, Pa. "It's a white house
with a natural color metal roof-that says urban farmhouse to me,"
Binkley says. This roof compliments the corrugated metal wall
panels that are also from Fabral; the panels were installed on one
portion of the house.
The Design
Much of the design of the house was dictated by the lot size.
Binkley notes that a narrow lot can make a house feel closed in.
But he overcame this by creating open, loft-like rooms that flow
into each other. He also flooded the space with natural daylight to
give the home warmth and comfort despite its size.
On the main floor, the kitchen is centrally located with
radiating living and dining rooms. Outdoor spaces, with an outdoor
living room and front porch area, are a natural extension of the
interior and are design for family gatherings or parties. The
second floor includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a laundry/
hobby area and a porch. There is additional living space above the
garage that can be used as a guest area, office or recreation
space. Patricia Gaylor of Little Falls, N.J.-based Patricia Gaylor
Interior Design was responsible for furnishing and enhancing the
interior spaces. Barn Light Electric Co., Titusville, Fla., was
responsible for the industrial lighting package.
The size and flow of this house are in tune with Binkley's No. 1
tip for sustainable design-don't overdesign. "Don't design beyond
your means. Take into account what you need for living space and
limit your size," he explains.
With the size and space determined, the design team wanted to
add touches that reflect the urban farmhouse style. Metal appears
in many areas of the exterior as a nod to this concept. For
instance, railings around the upper level patios are hog fence
panels mounted in aluminum frames that were found at a local
factory supply store. The home also includes corrugated metal wall
panels from Fabral on portions of the interior walls. "We took some
standard vocabulary and threads of design elements and gave it an
industrial twist, both inside and out," Binkley adds.
Binkley has worked with metal roofing in the past, and he
explained that he likes it because metal can express so many
different styles-from contemporary to agricultural. He chose a
metal roof for this house because he wanted a durable, long-lasting
material that added aesthetic appeal. Sustainability also was
integral in his decision. The sustainability of metal roofing
begins with the material. It is made with recycled content and can
be recycled at the end of its useful life. That life span is longer
than typical roof systems, so that means less materials will be
used on the home in its lifetime. Coatings on metal roofs help them
reduce energy consumption, limit the urban heat island effect and
improve solar reflectance.
From Fabral, the roof includes 31 squares of 1 1/2" SSR
standing-seam panels, and the walls feature 7 squares of 2 1/2"
Corrugated panels. SSR is a classic style metal roof with narrow
batten standing seams. Designed for longevity against rain, snow
and wind, this system also provides elegance and durability. The
corrugated panels are a versatile option that can be used as a
roofing or wall panel that also can be curved.
"The versatility of metal is one of its many attributes,"
explains Scott Bacon, director of sales and marketing for Fabral.
"The possibilities are almost endless because there are so many
profile options and color choices. Metal roofing and walls gives
people the opportunity to create truly unique and expressive
designs."
The roof is 24-gauge steel panels, Acrylic Coated Galvalume. It
was installed by Neal Strickland Roofing Inc., San Mateo., Fla. The
owner, Neal Strickland, got involved with the project after being
contacted by his regular supplier, B&B Wholesale Metals,
Palatka, Fla. "They called to see if we wanted to join the project,
and I thought it would be fun to work on this unique green house,"
Strickland says. "We donated our time, and I had a great time doing
it, meeting a lot of nice people."
The eight-person crew accomplished the install in about 12
hours. "We left Palatka at 5 a.m. and finished the installation at
about 8 p.m." Strickland explains that a benefit of metal roofing
is it installs faster than asphalt shingles. He notes that this
installation took a bit longer than usual because of additional
safety requirements needed for the steepslope roof. Also, the roof
had varying eaves, which required more time and installation
detail. Bacon notes: "Neal and his crew were instrumental in this
successful roofing project. They signed on for this project without
hesitation, volunteering their time and effort. Fabral is grateful
for their hardwork and exceptional craftsmanship."
Sustainable Choices
ed binkley design operates by the motto of "designing the green
world." Binkley says: "We are much too wasteful with almost
everything we do-from the way we drive cars, to how we live to how
we spend. Given the past few years in particular, I think it is
time to pull the reigns in a bit and try to create some homes that
are easier to maintain, less expensive
to operate, cleaner and healthier."
For Binkley, the bottom line is that people feel better living
in sustainable houses, so architects should provide this for
clients. In addition to the metal, he brought sustainability to the
VISION House by creating a solid building envelope with an ICF
structural system for walls; windows with Fibrex composite frame
and sash that contain 40 percent pre-consumer reclaimed wood fiber
and glass that uses 12 percent reclaimed glass; natural
daylighting; Energy Star-rated appliances; Energy Star-rated
ventilation fans; water-saving toilets, faucets and showerheads;
hardwood floors made from reclaimed wood; carpet made from recycled
plastic water bottles; a central vacuum system for improved indoor
air quality; spray foam insulation; high-efficiency, closed loop,
active water heating system; HardiePlank Siding; rust-proof
aluminum frame garage doors; natural quartz countertops; edible
landscaping; closets finished with a water-borne formula to reduce
off-gassing; and many more items.
What architects can learn from VISION House '11 is that
sustainability is easily within reach and should be part of every
home. Binkley's advice to architects is to create a tight shell
with the walls, windows, roof and insulation. He believes that is
70 percent of the battle in sustainable design. Then the focus
should be on the mechanical systems, indoor air quality and
appropriate finishes. He also believes architects should pay
attention to residential designs of the 1930s and 1940s when
breezeways, a home's flow, daylighting and other considerations
were incorporated to keep a home cool in the summer and warm in the
winter-without reliance on mechanical systems.
For clients who are resistant because of price, remind them:
"There is no reason a sustainable home should cost more than a
regular home. There are many manufacturers providing materials at
market cost." If that doesn't work, you can always show them this
example-a vision of sustainable design.
Daisy Lilley is marketing manager of Fabral, Lancaster, Pa.
Visit www.fabral.com for details.