Shared Home/Work Space Improves Lifestyle and Lowers Footprint

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The After Hours Building
Soaring from the ground at the intersection of 1st Avenue and McDowell Road in Downtown Phoenix, a continually shifting reflection of light reminds passersby that a new Phoenix is rising. The three-storey building that sits in a once vacant lot, represents the imaginative vision of extraordinary clients who decided to combine their lives and careers under one roof. The building includes the owners’ graphic design studio, a retail store and a top floor private residence/roof garden. The owners employed the Phoenix-based architecture firm, [merz]project, to design their dream. [merz]project has quickly gained a reputation within the Phoenix metro-area as urban design experts and the design of the After Hours building demonstrates an unusual aptitude for utilizing difficult use requirements as opportunities to create pragmatic urban solutions.

What Makes it Green:
While the fundamental live-work premise of the building has its inherent lifestyle efficiencies, the project was designed to be responsive to the unique desert climate and global environmental challenges. It has reduced car dependence for the owners (an abnormality in the suburban city of 4 million people) and eliminated nearly 10 car trips per day for the couple. Furthermore, the After Hours building is located within 1000 feet of a new Light Rail line station. Thus the unique location of the home will allow for the homeowners to reduce their need for an extra vehicle.

Furthering the building’s energy-savings, the east and west walls are nearly 100% opaque (except at the residence) which dramatically reduces early morning and late afternoon heat-gain. The exposed masonry walls are entirely filled with amino-plast insulation and on the west elevation, a “wrapper” of galvalume skin floats two inches off the masonry of the residence, which essentially provides building shading during the hottest time of the day. Low-E insulated glass units are installed throughout the project. The orientation and location of glazing on the building increase natural day-lighting, reducing the need for artificial lighting. During the majority of the year, the location of window openings allows the homeowners to enjoy the use of cross ventilation for passive cooling. In fact, 35% of the exterior glazing is operable taking advantage of the mild fall, winter and spring seasons in Phoenix – which exceeded International Energy Code requirements for commercial facilities.

Many aspects of the material and systems selection and construction methods employ energy saving ideas. A formaldehyde-free environment was achieved by utilizing the concrete slab as a finished surface, existing wood flooring and non-toxic custom cabinetry. Non-petroleum bases finishes and sealers were used on the millwork and flooring. Low-VOC paint was used on the small amount of drywall utilized in the home. The entire home has been outfitted with a high-volume central heating and air conditioning system, with programmable thermostats. The home is also equipped with low-flow plumbing fixtures and a high efficiency water heater.

Source: [merz]project

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September 28th, 2009 by signaltree
Posted in Architectual |
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