Today we’re excited to share a peek at our progress at Madrona Passive House and to announce that the home will be part of the NW Green Home Tour on Saturday, April 25th from 11am – 5pm. If you would like to check it out in person get tickets here! The three-level Passive House features sweeping views of Lake Washington and the Cascades and is currently at the beginning of the interior and exterior finishes stage.
The above photo shows the home’s ROXUL mineral wool monolithic exterior insulation and 1 x 4 rainscreen. High performance windows and front door are in.
The site’s steep slope posed unique challenges for both builder and architect. “The Passive House requirements of having an insulated foundation and the geotechnical issues all came together at the foundation,” said SHED Architecture and Design Project Manager Alex. The solution was to build an extensive piling system (check out this video for more about the pilings) with a concrete structural slab resting on top of the piles. H&H then built the Passive House enclosure on that platform.
In the photo above you can see the east side of the house and how it is built into the side of the hill. The bottom level, which will serve as the kids’ space, can be transformed into a separate ADU later on once the kids leave for college.
Windows are plentiful in this project, especially on the east side of the home.
“The views were a big priority,” said Alex. “The clients are very active – they spend a lot of time in the mountains. They wanted a view of the Cascades so from their second floor they could potentially see almost 180 degrees of a mountain range and almost all of Lake Washington.”
We hope you come check out the project during the NW Green Home Tour this month and we’ll be sure to share more updates as the project progresses.
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