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architecturalshowcase contest
entries: best remodel
Arcadea Architecture
Smith Residence Addition and Renovation
- SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE
- ELDORADO SPRINGS
- 3,300 SF ADDITION & RENOVATION (3 BEDROOMS & 3 BATHROOMS)
- BUILDER: KEVIN COWAN / GLACIER CONSTRUCTION
This project was an addition to an existing brick house built in a quirky, pseudo-medieval style, which the owners felt was charming but did not want to replicate in the addition. A foundation had already been put in place by previous owners in anticipation of adding on to the house.
Our solution was to add on to the existing structure by relating to it abstractly and to build on as much of the existing foundation as possible. Consequently, the addition is a collage of somewhat quirky, independent elements that together have a vaguely medieval flavor. Local stone, board and batten siding, and a metal roof borrow from houses in the local community, echoing the aesthetic of Colorado mining towns and creating a theme that ties the house into its environment.
Detailing of steel hardware continues these themes in a contemporary vein on the interior. Window shapes follow the tops of nearby ridges and frame dramatic views of the canyon and hillsides. Some of the more bizarre interior elements of the existing house were removed, and an arched wood ceiling trellis leads from the Entry to the Family Room creating a transition from new to old. The trellis sits atop a freestanding casework cube that divides the central space and provides a different function on each of its four sides. More of this can be seen at www.arcadea.com.
From an energy standpoint, the siting of the house had everything working against it. To the South is a steeply wooded hillside, which blocks wintertime Southern sunlight. The dramatic views into Eldorado Canyon and across open space were to the North and West. To solve these energy issues, all windows have two coatings of Low E and are filled with argon gas. This keeps insulation at its highest while blocking a high portion of incoming ultraviolet radiation. Insulating blinds on the large living room windows are hidden behind architectural beams. A concrete topping slab underneath the wood floors not only provides for a radiant heat base with lower operating costs, but also provides significant thermal mass. The perimeter of the living room also has stone tile to improve radiant heat performance adjacent to the large windows. The large fireplace built from local stone also contributes to this thermal mass, by storing the cool from Colorado nights and keeping the house comfortably cool during the day.
The house's open floor plan allows for warm air to rise and vent naturally through high windows on the third floor. The plan also facilitates a simple evaporative cooling system with very little ductwork. The system, which is very well hidden, is located near the third floor deck. It brings cool air into the upstairs bedrooms and hall and can quickly cool down the entire volume of the house at minimal cost.
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