Net Zero-Net Positive Modified Micropolis® House in North Carolina by ​​​​​Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Article source: ​​​​​Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

This modern, Net Zero-Net Positive house is a customized version of one of architect Arielle Condoret Schechter’s Micropolis® houses, a collection of small, modern, sustainable house plans she continues to design that can be purchased outright or customized to accommodate specific needs.

Her clients, Cheryl and Ken Serdar, loved the original 950-square-foot Micropolis® plan she calls “Happy Family” but needed a bit more space. So Schechter enlarged it to 2222 heated square feet to include a spacious, spa-like master bathroom and a third bedroom that Cheryl will use for her office and jewelry-making studio.

Originally from Texas, the Serdars were very clear about what they wanted for their new home in North Carolina’s Piedmont region: \”very modern,” “extremely green,” and “almost industrial.\”

Exterior From Left, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

• Architects: Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA
• Project: Net Zero-Net Positive Modified Micropolis® House
• Location: North Carolina, USA

Exterior, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

In form, function, and materials, the house is decidedly modern. The exterior walls are prefab concrete sandwich panels made to Schechter’s specifications and brought to the site. The cypress soffit is a soft counterpoint to the concrete cladding and shields the interior from the high summer sun. The floors are polished cement for durability and sustainability.

All windows and doors are manufactured by Awilux and certified for Passive House construction. The pivoting steel front door, sliding interior “barn doors,” and built-in closets, cabinets, and shelving throughout the house are modern space-saving ideas.

West Side View, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Angled Entrance, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Extensive glazing provides the Serdars with an abundance of natural light and natural ventilation. In the central living space, Awilux casement windows are combined with a wall of folding doors that open the entire back of the area to the back porch, welcoming cool breezes inside during pleasant weather.

All of those elements contribute to the house’s environmental sensitivity Its Net Zero status takes it up to \”extremely green.\” In fact, the Serdars’ modified Micropolis® house is the most energy-efficient residence Schechter has designed to date (and she’s designed many Net Zero/Net Positive houses). It has a HERS rating of -13, compared to the average American house’s very poor HERS rating of 100. Representatives from the independent rating company reported that this was the lowest/best rating they had ever seen.

Walk to Front Door, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Great RM frntdoor, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Along with the cement floors and aluminum-framed windows and doors, other details that give the house its “almost industrial” ambiance are the exposed ductwork, minimalist cabinetry, and the extra-large factory fan from Big Ass Fans®.

Like their architect, the Serdars are passionate about animals and include cats in their household. For the felines’ pleasure, Schechter created a “cat staircase” of simple, natural wood steps that lead up to a 12-foot-high platform in the living area.

Cat Steps In living Rm, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

LR to PORCH. Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Exploring Ideas

As Schechter was designing the master bath, she was \”exploring ideas of what a luxurious bathroom can be,\” she said, which supports her assertion that “smaller houses let you put your money toward better quality in materials and details rather than square feet.\”

The floor and walls of this elegant space are covered in large-scale black tile. A local artisan created a concrete trough double sink and Ipe wood composition All cabinets and drawers are built in and the “water closet” is obscured behind a barn door to provide privacy in an otherwise open space. The star of the space is the lighted shoe storage/display closet Schechter devised for Cheryl Serdar’s extensive collection of designer shoes.

Schechter names her Micropolis® house plans for the inspirations they give her. She named this one “Happy Family” because she designed it to have two bedrooms on either end as private retreats with a central shared space between them where the homeowners are together. Schechter believes this plan offers \”the type of spatial variety essential for a happy family.\”

Geat Room LG._window, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Screen Porch Door Open To Living Room, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Master Bookcs, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Master Bookcs, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Master Bedrm, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Pivot Door Open, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Kitchen and Dining, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Kitchen, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Island and Cooler, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Master Bath, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Master Bath, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Master Bath, Image Courtesy © Arielle Condoret Schechter, Architect, PLLC, AIA

Tags: North Carolina, USA

Categories: House, Residential

This entry was posted on Sunday, October 7th, 2018 at 7:22 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.