The owner lives in the Methow Valley of north central Washington and was seeking a residence that would have a minimal impact on the earth, both in terms of building size and energy use. A strong emphasis was also placed on minimizing disruption to the site, as many of the native plants are fragile and would not survive the effects of extensive site work.

The program itself is the first and most significant step in sustainability. The home is to serve as a full-time residence, but has been pared down to the essentials of living. The house is designed to nestle into a gently sloped hillside, allowing a partially buried level to house mechanical equipment and space for a car. The main level rises above to capture views to the east and south. The main level also steps down with the grade, allowing for more gracious gathering spaces and emphasizing the interdependent relationship between the house and the land.

Passively, the home is sited to take advantage of low winter sun while providing deep overhangs for high summer sun. The tree line to the north and west protects against harsh winter weather. The 2x8 walls will be super insulated and all windows will be triple glazed.
All interior concrete will be thermally isolated from the outside. The structure was designed around a supply of reclaimed lumber that the owner salvaged from an old warehouse in Tacoma. The limited quantities and sizes inspired a composition of pieces, stitched together in a manner that emphasizes the transition between spaces and volumes, inside and outside. The structure is wrapped in wood and steel (materials chosen for their low maintenance and long life span), though it remains largely exposed on its warm southern side.

While past generations lived off the grid because there was no grid, this house practices the same ideas of conservation and simplicity but uses advanced technologies to create cleaner energy and heating options. The expansive site allows for a horizontal geothermal trench that will be placed along an existing road to minimize disruption to the site. Radiant heating and cooling will be supplied via the geothermal heat pump through a hydronic system within the topping slab. A pole mounted PV array will collect solar energy that is converted and stored for electrical use within the home. Potable well water will be heated from the geothermal system with preheating capabilities from a solar hot water system. An ERV that wraps around the exhaust of the wood-fired pizza oven will re-direct energy back into the system. Rainwater from the roof will be collected and directed towards an underground cistern that can be used for irrigation and other non-potable purposes. A buried propane tank will supply backup heating and generator power in extreme conditions.

The home is “beyond the grid” in that it not only establishes independence from the power grid, but it delves into the basic principles of sustainability and how those are represented in the 21st century. Technology is celebrated and embraced, but it is coexists peacefully with a simple, modern approach to living that turns away from stylistic quaintness and instead looks boldly towards the future.

LEED Gold Candidate