The project program outlined a five-bedroom home for a family of four with an existing boathouse on the property to be renovated.

The architectural detailing and landscape of Deckhouse work to create a water filtration and erosion mitigation system. Water is collected with gutters and downspouts concealed in roof eaves, deck edges, and behind exterior wall slats. It is directed to a landscaped rain garden to alleviate sediment runoff into the lake. An underground constructed wetland mitigates and filters surface water entering the site from adjacent properties. The project approaches a zero-carbon footprint. A geothermal mechanical system heats and cools Deckhouse. It is supported by an integrated 16kw photovoltaic array powering ten Tesla Powerwalls and two electric car charging stations.

The home is constructed with a thermally separated envelope, high R-value closed-cell polyurethane insulation, tri-pane glazing, and ERV’s provide fresh air exchange. The residence was commissioned during construction and intensely reviewed using industry testing guidelines. A blower door test and infrared scanning confirmed air tightness of the construction. Using cubic feet of air per minute at 50 pascals of pressure difference per square foot of surface area (CFM50/SF), the home registered a .09 air changes per hour, nearly achieving the Passive house benchmark of .06 ACH.