Project Description
Dubbed the “Nautilus House” for its shape, this Ann Arbor home received
certification as Michigan’s second U.S. Green Building Council LEED
Platinum-level whole-house remodel. The client, a found-object artist
and metal worker, “wanted this house to be a harbinger of innovative
green design and construction,” architect Michael Klement says.
Without increasing the home’s footprint, Klement radically changed this
typical suburban colonial into a visually arresting and environmentally
sensitive residence where beauty meets functionality. “This is a dream
house for a lot of people,” the judges said. “It’s sheer innovation and
rule-breaking.”
The project uses state-of-the art building
envelope techniques including cellulose insulation, engineered-wood
products, spray polyurethane foam, and structural insulated panels
(SIPs) to minimize energy loss. A photovoltaic roof array allows the
home to make more energy than it uses during the summer. The
standing-seam metal roof, which lasts longer than a standard roof,
delivers clean water to rain-saving catchment containers, which can be
used for the outdoor shower. Inside, flexible design strategies and an
open floor plan make the 3,220 square feet of living space seem larger.