A retired couple relocating back to Missouri came to Monarch looking to create their forever home on a parcel south of Columbia. A modest, age-in-place and environmentally-friendly design with Craftsman details were their main goals. The floor plan is a simple L-shape with the longest axis running east-west. This enabled a gabled roof with a large amount of south-facing roof area for a future solar array. Significant eaves on the south side will shade windows from summer heat; small west-facing windows with a front porch will help prevent further heat gain. The slab-on-grade home uses a thermally broken, fully insulated slab.
The ventilated attic design allows for cellulose insulation, preferable for its hygroscopic qualities, carbon sequestration, and low cost. Space heating will be provided via air-to-air heat pumps, although the clients will also have an efficient wood burning stove (with an outside air intake) as a back up in power outages. The project is on-track to be one of Monarch Architecture’s highest performing projects at a fairly average cost per SF for custom homes in this area. The low-slope site with good solar access gave the project a head start. However, the client also prioritized high-performing materials and systems in lieu of a complex building shape or high-end fixtures and finishes. The home is likely to easily achieve net-zero electric with rooftop solar, should the clients pursue installation of a PV array.
