T h e M a r t i n R e s i d e n c e
Eager to live in a downtown pedestrian neighborhood, the Martins originally intended to transform an existing house into an efficient, modern, urban dwelling tailored to the needs of their growing family. Their new home was designed in relation to the footprint of the existing house and the two enormous trees that occupied the lot.
Unfortunately, the foundation of the house was found to be faulty, and so it was disassembled by Habitat for Humanity for recycling. Similarly, the large front tree was found to have diseased roots and had to be removed. The design remained unchanged, however, and a new tree was planted in its place.
In addition to choosing to build in a neighborhood where they could be less car-dependent, the Martins wanted to build sustainably as much as possible. Some of the "green" features of their new home include: a geothermal heat pump, SIPs (Structurally Insulated Panels) construction, solar hot water panels for radiant heat and domestic use, rainwater collection, hardiplank siding, the extensive use of local, salvaged and/or recycled materials, native, drought tolerant landscaping, and of course, efficient space design. Fortunately, the east-west direction of the street allowed for a great south-facing roof that offers prime exposure for the solar hot water panels.
Though the house introduces new elements and technologies to this street of older homes, it continues the key pattern of generous front porches that is common to its neighbors. Unlike the other porches, however, the decking on this porch is made from recycled milk jugs. Both roof and front porch are carved out in deference to the "Entry Tree," with a curve whose radius is centered on the tree trunk.
An entry bench and siding continue from inside to out, making a place by the front door. It offers a chance to pause and get a close up view of what will become the large, variegated tree trunk of the newly planted Sycamore. The two trees of the lot are connected visually inside the house. One tree "sees" the other through large openings that frame each one at either end of the house.
An entrance hall leads to one large room incorporating the kitchen, dining, and living areas, as well as smaller niches that make places for a piano, computer desk, and windowseat. Heartpine flooring, salvaged from a pre-Civil War textile mill in nearby Burlington, steps down to a polished concrete floor. Tubing embedded in the slab is fed by solar hot water panels to provide radiant heat to the room.
A lower ceiling at the entrance transitions to higher ceilings at the kitchen, dining and living areas, exposing the beams and joists of the roof deck above. The dining area is distinguished by a long skylight that washes a tall concrete wall to the west with sunlight. Opposite are french doors that open the dining up to an on level patio, inviting easy outdoor eating and living.
An exterior door at the kitchen allows convenient access to unloading from the car. Recycled glass tiles make up the backsplash.
A windowseat is tucked into the corner of the living room, up against the concrete back wall, which extends outside and carries a gutter along its top edge. From this niche you get a private view of the rain chain at the end of the wall, which empties into a 1000 gallon underground rain cistern. Water is stored here, to be pumped out later for watering the yard.
The house opens up to more expansive views to the east, and is shielded from its closeby neighbors and higher grade level on the west, with a poured-in-place concrete wall that is continuous on this side.
Riding atop the concrete wall are two gutters sloped in opposite directions which collect water from the roof deck. Each terminates in rain chains at either end of the house and double as a kind of continuous, water-carrying trim band along this west elevation.
The interior stairs are enclosed on one side by a bank of low storage cabinets that serve the kitchen,
and incorporate a bench at the landing, a mid-stair perch from which to survey the activities below. This landing is also accessible via a half flight of steps down to the back patio, directly linking the back terrace with the roof deck above.
At the upper level Master Bath, like other corners of the house, we used casement windows that swing away from the corner. Opening up on the diagonal like this gives a feeling of spaciousness and expanse even to very small rooms.
The roof deck offers a rare opportunity to be among the rooftops and gives a sense of liberation relative to the density of the neighborhood at street level below. Outdoor steps from the backyard patio share a mid-level landing with the interior stairs, making the roof terrace accessible from both inside and outside.
The skylight marks the seasons and time of day, making the path of the sun evident in the space below. At night it becomes a lantern, with interior lights illuminating the roof deck with a soft gentle glow.
With neighboring houses dropping away to the east, the upper deck takes advantage of a distant, forested view of Oakwood Park and Cemetery beyond, a unique view few get in this part of downtown.
Taking full advantage of a tight city lot, the roof deck connects the private backyard with the public street. At this end of the deck, you are in the space of the street, and within the next few years, hopefully, under the dappled shade of the new Sycamore tree.
NOTE: The Martin House was selected from a nationwide search to be featured on Discovery's new "Planet Green" network on the show "Renovation Nation," hosted by Steve Thomas of This Old House. The construction of the house, with a focus on its "green" aspects, is documented in three episodes, first aired in July 2008.
See the Construction Diary for a brief overview of the construction and filming process.