Located on an infill lot in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego, the client desired a home that would make the most of its site, be low-maintenance and incorporate a variety of energy and resource-conserving features.

The house has been conceived according to passive solar and natural ventilation design principles. Horizontal sunshades shield glass from summer heat gain, while the interior is naturally ventilated via the central atrium and clerestory windows. The house’s simple form is compact (48’ L x 40’ W x 23’ H), minimizing the exterior surface area, maximizing thermal performance, and reducing electrical and plumbing runs. The living, dining, kitchen and master bedroom are located on the upper level and oriented to capture views of the Pacific Ocean, Mission Bay and La Jolla.

Due to the client’s concern with durability and maintenance, the house is constructed entirely of steel and integrally colored concrete masonry. The exposed steel seismic-resisting frame is filled in with a super-durable pre-finished panel façade system consisting of real wood veneer over a bakelite core. The walls are entirely non-bearing and are constructed of light-gage steel framing. The roof and floors are framed with light-gage steel, pre-punch for easy routing of services. Steel typically contains at least 25% recycled content.

In addition to a high “R- value” rating for the walls and roof, the building has a “cool roof” consisting of a membrane system with an aluminized coating.

Heating is provided by an in-floor hydronic radiant system powered by a high-efficiency (95%, 50 gal.) natural gas water heater that also supplies the domestic hot water.

The floors are finished exclusively with large-format unglazed porcelain ceramic tiles that require no coatings or special maintenance, while also providing thermal mass to help maintain a comfortable indoor temperature year round.

Only low-VOC finishes are used in the interior. The Owner fabricated all of the cabinetry in his own on-site workshop (the Garage), which the General Contractor was required to build first.

Low-flow showerheads and dual-flush toilets are used throughout. Two 1700-gallon pre-fabricated underground cisterns (sized according to the location and landscape requirements) store rainwater collected from all roof and impervious walking surfaces. This water is used for irrigation purposes.

Landscaping consists largely of drought-tolerant and native plant varieties. The Owner maintains his own kitchen garden in a south-facing portion of the lot set aside for this purpose.

Lastly, 95% of anticipated electrical needs are provided by a roof-mounted net-metering photovoltaic system.