Kansas City, Missouri. A sustainable single family house on a long, narrow urban lot. Distend: to stretch, or extrude.
The goal was long term economic sustainability for the house and for the neighborhood, which on a tight urban parcel means the envelope has to do the work the mechanical system would otherwise pay for.
The primary structure is Structural Insulated Panels, giving higher effective thermal resistance and lower air infiltration so the HVAC runs less. Roof height lets skylights bring light to the north side, and solar panels carry an alternate energy source. Landscaping of lavender and switch grasses forms a private barrier and a path to the rear, and existing oak trees hold the back yard. A modern gable extrudes past the front facade to make a contemporary stoop.
Low maintenance exterior finishes hold the operating cost down over the life of the house. On a long narrow urban lot the only way to reach long term economic sustainability is to spend on the things that never need paying for twice: the envelope, the orientation and the trees that were already there.
S.C.O.R.E. Operational Efficiency. Site Integration.
