East End 270

Context:
A family chose to move from their spacious, wooded suburban surroundings into the city to reduce the time spent in their cars and to integrate more into the urban fabric. They wanted open, family living but were challenged with one of the few remaining in-town Portland lots, very narrow with setback limits from all sides and with complex regulatory design constraints. Ideally the house would attain net zero energy and would be tall enough to get views of Casco Bay.

Response:
A new structure reaches four stories in height to attain views over many adjacent rooftops and to 270-degee views of the water and the islands beyond from a skyroom and deck. Contemporary forms interlock to create a main living volume that seems to float above the recessed parking below, and a top-floor shifted box clad in wood. Large windows capture the light and lower-level views, and smaller openings regulate privacy. With 14kW of PV, this building is capable of achieving net zero energy, and providing charging for an electric vehicle. It features a superinsulated, extremely airtight shell and high-performance, triple-glazed ventilating windows.

The acetylated wood used on the exterior of the home is manufactured via a non-toxic treatment and uses fast-growing softwood timber from sustainable sources. The result is a highly durable, but natural rot-resistant material. All materials that have been used throughout are low- or no-VOC.