Prescott Passive House
12. July 2010
Studio 804 is a design/build program directed by Dan Rockhill at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Planning in Lawrence, Kansas, in which fifth-year students design, develop and build an affordable house in the area. They answered some questions about their latest highly ambitious house project.
Approach view from sidewalk to south
(Photos: Studio 804, Inc.)
What were the circumstances of receiving the commission for this project?
Interior view from living room to kitchen and loft
Can you describe your design process for the building?
To arrive at the final design, students set off in many directions, painstakingly researching specific attributes of sustainable design, environmentally friendly materials and aesthetic precedents. Modular construction was evaluated in-depth, as were European examples of technology and design [where the Passive House standard, mentioned below, originated], and vernacular construction; both sustainable rating systems that we intended to use were also integrated into the design from the start. Details and design elements were discussed daily and developed in a cooperative manner. Full scale mock-ups also played a critical role in the process, systems like the louvers and wall assembly were extensively planned in this way.
Interior view of glass wall at bathroom core
How does the completed building compare to the project as designed? Were there any dramatic changes between the two and/or lessons learned during construction?
Plans
(Drawing: Studio 804, Inc.)
How does the building compare to other projects in your office, be it the same or other building types?
Elevations
(Drawing: Studio 804, Inc.)
How does the building relate to contemporary architectural trends, be it sustainability, technology, etc.?
Primarily the building addresses the industry trends of sustainable and green building practices. Because the methods chosen for the Prescott Passive House don't rely on expensive, technologically advanced systems, we were able to keep the house marketable within the affordable housing sector. We felt that this was a critical aspect of the project, and one that sets it apart from current trends in architecture. The home's pending LEED Platinum status surpasses what many people consider the threshold for sustainable practices.
Section
(Drawing: Studio 804, Inc.)
Are there any new/upcoming projects in the studio that this building’s design and construction has influenced?
We believe in the Passive House concept and will continue to work in this direction in the immediate future.
E-mail interview conducted by John Hill
Prescott Passive House
2010
Kansas City, KS
Client
Speculative
Architect
Studio 804 Inc.
Dan Rockhill
Design Principal
Dan Rockhill
Project Team
CJ Armstrong
Elizabeth Beckerle
Joshua Brown
William Doran
Colleen Driver
Laura Foster
Joel Garcia
Tyler Harrelson
Lauren Hickman
Aaron Jensen
Matthew Johnson
Daniel Lipscomb
Daniel Matchett
Jennifer Mayfield
Katherine Morell
Tye Zehner
Structural Engineer
Norton & Schmidt
Green Rater
Hathmore Technologies
Passive House Consultant
Passive energy designs
Site Area
15,000 s.f.
Building Area
1,700 finished
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