Modern Net Zero Passive House in Chapel Hill, North Carolina by Arielle Condoret Schechter, AIA, Architect

Article source: Arielle Condoret Schechter, AIA, Architect

The modern, net zero passive house that architect Arielle Condoret Schecher, AIA , designed for her favorite builder, Kevin Murphy of NewPhire Building and his family of four, is, according to Murphy, “a warm and functional family home as well as a showcase of cutting-edge green building techniques.”

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

• Architects: Arielle Condoret Schechter, AIA, Architect
• Project: Modern Net Zero Passive House
• Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
• Photography: Duffy Healy
• Builder: Kevin Murphy, NewPhire Building, Chapel Hill, NC
• Completed: 2015

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

Architecturally, the house effortlessly combines environmental stewardship with the simple volumes, flat rooflines, open floor plan, and indoor-outdoor living that define modern styling. The first floor features a spacious living/dining/kitchen area connected to a screen porch that extends the living space outdoors. The master bedroom wing is located on the first floor with the children’s suite – complete with a multipurpose music and entertainment room – and home office upstairs. Typical of Schechter’s residential work, a private interior courtyard links all spaces together.

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

The house is located on a 4.3-acre site at the end of a private gravel road that is very secluded yet only a seven-minute drive from Chapel Hill or Carrboro, NC. Despite the size of the lot, stream buffers, setbacks to existing well and septic concerns, and a new leach field left Murphy with a surprisingly small area on which to build his home.

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

The site’s eastern line runs down to the branch of a small creek. Beyond the creek, dozens of acres of Triangle Land Conservancy property provides a lush buffer for wildlife. The screen porch faces the forest.

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

Designed to be Net Zero, Murphy’s home is already proving to be Net Positive. The 7.9 kW solar array is providing about $30 per month of excess electricity that Murphy intends to use for an electric car. The HERS (Home Energy Rating System) score is a -3 — a phenomenal score.

As Schechter and Murphy anticipated, the house has earned the National Green Building Standard “Gold” rating.

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

Image Courtesy © Duffy Healy

Tags: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Category: House

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