![Alone House 2 1652302075](
/img/asset/cHVibGljL3Byb2plY3RzL0Fsb25lLUhvdXNlXzItMTY1MjMwMjA3NS5qcGc=/Alone-House_2-1652302075.jpg?w=960&h=540&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&q=60&filt=0&s=ae66c0ca60bcf89f18e2f51cf35e4d6a
)
![Fullscreen Gallery Image](/assets/projects/Alone-House_2-1652302075.jpg)
![Alone House 3 1652302077](
/img/asset/cHVibGljL3Byb2plY3RzL0Fsb25lLUhvdXNlXzMtMTY1MjMwMjA3Ny5qcGc=/Alone-House_3-1652302077.jpg?w=960&h=540&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&q=60&filt=0&s=102ef7ae1936ed4dffe3fc11ea900236
)
![Fullscreen Gallery Image](/assets/projects/Alone-House_3-1652302077.jpg)
![Alone House 4 1652302084](
/img/asset/cHVibGljL3Byb2plY3RzL0Fsb25lLUhvdXNlXzQtMTY1MjMwMjA4NC5qcGc=/Alone-House_4-1652302084.jpg?w=960&h=540&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&q=60&filt=0&s=42c4d8f8eedc2c29238574dcb6cb635f
)
![Fullscreen Gallery Image](/assets/projects/Alone-House_4-1652302084.jpg)
![Alone House 5 1652302086](
/img/asset/cHVibGljL3Byb2plY3RzL0Fsb25lLUhvdXNlXzUtMTY1MjMwMjA4Ni5qcGc=/Alone-House_5-1652302086.jpg?w=960&h=540&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&q=60&filt=0&s=d7b798585cbcebc96305bc0ee8e6e4dd
)
![Fullscreen Gallery Image](/assets/projects/Alone-House_5-1652302086.jpg)
![Alone House 6 1652302089](
/img/asset/cHVibGljL3Byb2plY3RzL0Fsb25lLUhvdXNlXzYtMTY1MjMwMjA4OS5qcGc=/Alone-House_6-1652302089.jpg?w=960&h=540&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&q=60&filt=0&s=06400b748f7e9925de69200ea7371b6f
)
![Fullscreen Gallery Image](/assets/projects/Alone-House_6-1652302089.jpg)
![Alone House Diagram 1652302090](
/img/asset/cHVibGljL3Byb2plY3RzL0Fsb25lLUhvdXNlX0RpYWdyYW0tMTY1MjMwMjA5MC5qcGc=/Alone-House_Diagram-1652302090.jpg?w=960&h=540&fit=crop&fm=pjpg&q=60&filt=0&s=c19cca78c192756aedc075027fdaadad
)
![Fullscreen Gallery Image](/assets/projects/Alone-House_Diagram-1652302090.jpg)
Metrics
Airtightness (measured): |
0.62 ACH50 |
Actual Energy Use Intensity (EUI): |
1.4 kBtu/sf/yr |
Surface Area to Volume: |
0.21 sf/cf |
Heat Loss Form Factor: |
3.13 |
Home Energy Rating Score (HERS Index): |
14 |
Rooftop solar PV: |
3.78 kW (size); 4,373 kWh (est. annual solar production) |
This small citadel developed through the owner’s desire for a house-as-retreat. For the better part of a decade, the occupants of this single-family house experienced rapid change in their Philadelphia neighborhood: gritty artist studios and open green lots were infilled with mass residential development and large-scale construction. The project fortifies the residents from the changing environment.
As opposed to traditional rowhome construction where neighbors share a “party” wall, the building pulls away from its masonry neighbors to produce two buffer yards. This eliminates noise infiltration from adjacent properties while offering a continuous belt of outdoor living space. In comparison to the nearly windowless street-facing walls, the house becomes permeable at the rear where maximum solar exposure occurs. Double-stud exterior walls create fourteen inches of sound attenuation between street and interior. Thicker assemblies and air-tight construction provide for smaller mechanical systems, minimal energy bills and indoor air quality that is otherwise rare in an urban setting.
Project Team:
Design-Builder: Future & Sons (Travis Douglas & team) http://www.futureandsons.com/
Energy Rater / Verifier: DSB Energy (David Berg) http://www.dsbenergy.com/author/big_dog/
Structural Engineer: Larsen & Landis http://www.larsenlandis.com/
Solar Provider: Solar States https://www.solar-states.com/
Photography: Sam Oberter https://www.samoberter.com/