This project, a collaboration between a visionary client and Bosworth Hoedemaker, is designed to respond to the certification benchmarks of the Living Building Challenge from the Living Building Institute.
The house has been designed to exist and operate entirely off-grid. Using passive and active solar, including photovoltaic, hot water solar, and an innovative solar-thermal system that stores the sun’s heat in a solar bank, the house is able to store and generate all the power it needs for heat, hot water, and electricity.
A water catchment system is designed to capture and filter water for domestic use. Unfortunately, current zoning does not permit the use of water collected as catchment for domestic use. Until the code is able to reflect the potential for safe drinking water from this method the house will use water from an on-site well.
The Work House employs a Whole Water system, an energy and resource efficient water treatment system that involves onsite wastewater treatment rather than returning wastewater to the ground via a typical system. This will provide water for irrigation to aid in the establishment of native plant systems around the house.
The building orients itself in optimal relation to the sun and the site. Stretching along an east-west ridge, the spine of the building marks the sunrise and sunset of the equinox. Roof angles are optimized for solar absorption during the winter months and solar protection during the summer. The material of the building works as a solar heat sink, re-radiating collected heat after the sunset.
A reflecting pool to the south of the house bounces natural light up under the roof for passive daylighting. The pool also permits daylight to pass through it, providing natural illumination to two workrooms in the basement of the building.
