LEED for Homes Residential Projects in Philadelphia
Link to more information on LEED United States Green Building Council
Tim McDonald Philadelphia Projects
link to Green Roof division of Onion Flats
Thin Flats
Philadelphia's first platinum LEED certified construction project is in Northern Liberties
Rag Flats
The 3 photos above are of the Rag Flats project in Fishtown by the Onion Flats group. These were the first LEED certified (gold) units built in the Philadelphia area. Rag
Flats is an experiment in and a critique of sustainable forms of urban
dwelling. The former industrial Rag factory has been recontextualized
as a residential garden community created by prototypical forms of
dwelling commonly found in Philadelphia: the Row House, the Trinity,
the Loft and the Pavilion. Rag Flats intentionally explores the
necessary relationships between density, intimacy and privacy in any
urban community.
Photos of additional projects by the Onion Flats group
E Flats
Capital Flats
George Woodward Co. project in Chestnut Hill section on Philadelphiaproject architect Re:Vision Architecture firm websiteThis information taken from the Vision Architecture website
Modular Twin homes
GREEN HIGHLIGHTS:
Achieved LEED for Homes Platinum Certification
Infill of a vacant urban site in a walkable neighborhood
R-30 wall insulation, including biobased foam, resulting in a 44% more energy efficient house than a typical development
Continuous insulation on the exterior to minimize thermal breaks
Use of environmentally preferred products with a high recycled content and/or rapidly renewable
Ground
coupled heat/cooling pumps in combination with a short run ducted
system and energy recovering unit to optimize energy consumption for
heating and cooling
High efficiency plumbing fixtures for showers and sinks to reduce water and energy use
Collection of rainwater for use in irrigation and landscaping
MERV 13 filters to minimize indoor air pollution
Written durability plan and third party inspection to secure the quality of construction
40% fly ash (a waste product) was used in concrete to reduce CO2 emissions
Lush, native landscaping plan with rain gardens for on-site storm water management
Durable exterior materials that reflect and respect the existing surroundings of Chestnut Hill
These
1913 sf green twin homes were developed for Woodward Properties in
Chestnut Hill to add to their portfolio of premier rental properties in
NW Philadelphia. In addition to providing tenant amenities such as
abundant daylight, modern design, and low utility bills (modeled to be
less than $160/month total utilities), the homes prioritized the
importance of flexible floor plans that would allow tenants to
age-in-place. Strong indoor-outdoor connections were also provided
through a series of balconies, porches, and terraces that retain
privacy on a small, urban site. Given the proximity of the homes to the
bustle of Germantown Avenue, careful consideration was also given to
sound attenuation which was achieved through landscaping and
super-insulation of the homes. During construction, many neighbors
wondered how the homes were built so quickly; the cores of the home
were constructed off-site in modules and then shipped to the site for
finishing by Gardner/Fox. All team members were excited to see how
quickly these homes were leased!
another project by ReVision ArchitectureBancroft Green
information below from ReVision Architecture
websiteGREEN HIGHLIGHTS:
Urban infill project
Use of light wells and creative design to optimize daylight on a narrow site
Geo-thermal heating and cooling
EnergyStar certified, modeled to perform 45% better than a typical code compliant home
Water conserving fixtures, such as dual flush toilets
Energy saving light fixtures
Rooftop decks with green roofs to decrease storm water runoff and reduce cooling loads
Secure bicycle and trash storage at grade for easy access
Use of reclaimed materials, such as the exterior brick
Use of materials with high recycled content, such as the roof deck pavers made of recycled car tires
Use of durable materials, such as aluminum clad windows and cementitious paneling
1 year free PhillyCarShare
2 new PhillyCarShare pods on block
Bancroft
Green is the redevelopment of a large urban parcel into ten townhomes
with a central greenspace and PhillyCarShare parking area. With lots
less than 16? wide, the design took a creative approach to daylighting
and incorporated light wells and high windows to successfully bring
light deep into the units. The project also took advantage of the small
lot sizes by using party walls to create more energy efficient
envelopes. Both the use of geothermal heat pumps and modular
construction demonstrate that these technologies can be accomplished on
even the narrowest of city streets. The final EnergyStar HERS rating
for Bancroft Green projects that the homes should perform 45% more
efficiently than a typical code compliant home of the same size.
100K house ProjectPostgreen
link toPostgreen's flagship project, the 100k House project consists of two
homes in the E. Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. The homes are
very close to being finished and are both slated to achieve LEED
Platinum certification. This project is Postgreen's first crack at the
Passive House standard. It consists of two adjacent row homes, one of
which is known as the M&M House and the other the official
Philadelphia Passive House.
link toarticle on Dranoff Properties LEED-certified five-story apartment
complex at 777 South Broad St. The complex will feature 146
contemporary loft rental apartments, along with retail and restaurants
on the ground level. The property was previously occupied by boarded-up
homes and a defunct hospital. 777
South Broad is Dranoff's first foray into LEED building, so the company
sought to verify the quality of new or unfamiliar green products before
installing them into the units. A mockup apartment, erected at the
developer?s headquarters, allows the staff to verify LEED credits and,
perhaps more important, run tests on products.
More innovative residential modern architecture in Philadelphia
Projects by Daryl Rothmund and Doug Culbert AIA
Wesley Architectslink to
Wesley Architects websiteThe Spite House Northern Lierties
Similar
to other "spite houses," the townhouse in Northern Liberties is built
on a tiny, narrow and oddly shaped - almost unbuildable vacant
corner lot in the Northern Liberties (NoLib) section of Philadelphia.
The NoLib Spite House doesn't quite follow the rules of its urban
context, but rather seeks to recover them through a revelation of
ordinary conditions. The house was influenced by the writings of Stanley Rosen especially The Elusiveness of the Ordinary, 2002.
The
form of the building responds precisely - but not literally - to a
series of specific conditions in the urban context, i.e. extending a
street wall, establishing a corner and stepping to adjust to
surrounding building heights. The primary architectural element of the
building is a brick wall with windows and doors; but in contrast to the
red brick front facades on the surrounding buildings, the brick
of the Spite House is a smoke-stained dark gray color and the wall
folds around the corners to wrap all three sides of the building.
Although the folded brick wall is not parallel to the sidewalk or the
property lines, the two street walls of the corner are held (more or
less) along the perimeter.
Like
the surrounding buildings the Spite House has secondary elements that
contrast with the brick wall. Unlike the painted wood and aluminum
siding used on the secondary elements of the surrounding buildings,
these elements are zinc. Like those on the surrounding buildings
these secondary elements act to provide a meaningful articulation with
regard to the legibility of the urban context, e.g. marking an public
corner and a private entrance. Although at first glance the Spite
House doesn't appear to be a ?good neighbor,? the
bending of the brick wall along with the bumping of the secondary zinc
elements provides a sense of belonging to a specific urban
context.
The
interior of the house was developed around a vertical journey
culminating on a roof deck with an upper-level green roof. The
journey begins on the sidewalk by crossing a stone threshold and
stepping up onto a vestibule. The vestibule is positioned on the middle
level of an interior topography. One steps down from the vestibule into
a sunken living room or up into a raised dining room and kitchen.
From the vestibule one ascends the stairs on a vertical journey that
passes through the bedroom levels and ends by breaking the roof with
skylights, a roof deck and green roof.
The
geometry of the exterior of the Spite House is resolved spatially on
the interior in a manner that creates rooms of appropriate definition
(with regard to shape and size) and specific outlook. Rooms are
seen as opportunities to occupy positions within the house in relation
to the surrounding city. Each room is defined by the bending of the
exterior wall and the bumping of the secondary elements. These exterior
elements are inhabited on the interior as the narrative of the vertical
journey unfolds and the intimacy gradient of dwelling is revealed.
Latimer Street House, 1993-1994 David Slovic Associates
"The
house designed by the husband and wife principals of the firm for
themselves and reflects their philosophy of architecture and urbanism.
The home attempts to bring the amenities of suburban living to an
urban setting.
The site was previously occupied by three row
houses demolished in the 1940's. It is unusually large for a single
family house and has frontage on three streets. The house is organized
around a courtyard which divides the building into two sections.
Interior spaces reflect the simplicity of industrial lofts, opening to
the courtyard through a wall of glass and steel.
Every aspect of the
exterior exaggerates its difference from its neighbors. The inward
focus of the plan reduces the ned for exterior windows resulting in
facades of large blank wall surfaces. Not only is the house different
from the traditional row-house but is also abandons the post-modern
interest in ornamentation in a style that combines elegant materials
and details with stark industrial simplicity." This information is from
th second edition of Philadelphia Architecture a guide to the city by the Foundation for Architecture in Philadelphia.
