somerville house

This complete renovation of a deteriorated three-unit apartment house was the result of a successful collaboration between the architects, owners, energy consultant and builder. The design involved removing three previous additions to create an efficient, light-filled two-unit home. A “reverse plan” placed bedrooms on the ground level with living spaces above to take advantage of views. The project is Energy Star certified, with estimated energy savings of 51% below a comparable, conventionally built home (HERS index: 49). Sustainable design features include: compact design, maximum daylighting, advanced building envelope design, super-insulated windows and a high-efficiency heat pump. General Contractor: Adams & Beasley photo: Edua Wilde