This new 3,100 square foot home is a Net Zero/ Net Positive Home. Conceived as a dream home for a retiring doctor and his wife, it has 2 bedrooms and 2 ‘offices’ that could be converted to bedrooms for a future family’s use. The project goals were a Net Zero that would produce enough electricity to also cover at least one Tesla. (Achieved!) And indoor outdoor house in which the surrounding garden was as important as the house. The home owners, originally from Atlanta, dreamed of moving close enough to New York City to enjoy the theater and nightlife, but far enough away to have a serene and very private piece of land. The also wanted a community that applauded modern design. They found the perfect piece of land among a small development of other modern homes in Pound Ridge, NY. Avid gardeners, the landscape immediately became an integral part of the house design. The architects worked with the homeowners to conceive this unique property in its entirety – inside and out.
The Net Zero aspect of the project was another requirement, along with at least one Tesla car. Currently the home owners have the Tesla charging and the house produces about $600 more dollars’ worth of electricity than it uses over the course of a year. The couple has just completed their second year of residence in the home. The final result is a contemporary design to simplify their lives and allow them to live in a clutter-free environment. An open interior layout and extensive custom built-ins make this possible. The super efficient building envelope and the sustainable landscape make for a carefree ‘homestead’ in which to enjoy their retirement.
