Four Up / One Down
by Mark Hogan
OpenScope Studio
Description
THIS BUILDING COUNTERS THE COMMON TREND OF PROVIDING SMALL UNITS IN NEW APARTMENTS BY PROVIDING FOUR TWO BEDROOM UNITS AND ONE THREE BEDROOM UNIT. SEEING AS IT WILL LIKELY BE LOCATED IN A MORE SUBURBAN (SINGLE FAMILY) NEIGHBORHOOD, THE DWELLINGS PROVIDE MANY OF THE COMFORTS OF A SUBURBAN HOME: EACH UNIT HAS PRIVATE OUTDOOR SPACE, ROOM FOR STORING BIKES AND ACCESS TO A SHARED YARD. THE FIVE LARGE UNITS ARE SUITABLE FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF POTENTIAL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING COUPLES WITH A HOME OFFICE, FAMILIES OR ROOMMATES. THE BUILDING'S COMPACT FORM LIMITS HEAT TRANSFER, A KEY TO PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGN. CONVENTIONALLY FRAMED 2X6 WALLS ARE INSULATED WITH BLOWN IN CELLULOSE INSULATION WITH 2" OF EXTERIOR MINERAL WOOL BOARD, WHICH ALLOWS THE BUILDING TO MEET PASSIVE HOUSE STANDARDS IN COASTAL CALIFORNIA. THE BUILDING IS AIR SEALED WITH A CONTINUOUS AIR BARRIER ON THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE WALL. IN THIS CLIMATE OVERHEATING IS MORE OF AN ISSUE THAN HEAT LOSS IN PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGN, SO LARGE AREAS OF GLASS ARE SHADED, WHICH CAN BE TUNED DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION AND ORIENTATION OF THE SITE. THE LAYOUT SHOWN HERE ASSUMES THE REAR OF THE BUILDING WILL FACE SOUTH, WITH THE COVERED DECKS PROVIDING SHADING TO THE LIFT AND SLIDE DOORS. EACH UNIT HAS A SMALL MINI SPLIT SYSTEM PROVIDING HEATING AND COOLING, AND EACH HAS ITS OWN HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER LOCATED IN A MECHANICAL ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR. A SMALL ERV UNIT IS LOCATED IN A SOFFIT WITHIN EACH UNIT TO ENSURE A STEADY SUPPLY OF FILTERED FRESH AIR. WITH MERV-13 FILTERS, THE ERVS WILL ADDRESS URBAN AIR QUALITY ISSUES AND FIRE SEASON. WHILE THE UPPER FLOORS ARE ACCESSED ONLY VIA STAIRS, AN ACCESSIBLE UNIT IS BUILT OUT ON THE GROUND FLOOR, ALONG WITH ALL THE RESIDENT AMENITIES. TWO TANDEM PARKING SPACES ARE PROVIDED IN THE GARAGE BUT THIS SPACE COULD ALSO BE USED FOR GENERAL STORAGE OR CARGO BIKES, AND THERE IS A SEPARATE BIKE PARKING ROOM WHICH ALSO ACCOMMODATES STROLLERS.
Contact the architect
Mark Hogan
OpenScope Studio