Eames Ave
a whole house deep energy retrofit in the heart of town
The Eames Ave facade now includes color blocks of gray vertical boards juxtaposed with charred horizontal cedar siding
The Eames Ave front door is a pop of color amidst the gray vertical boards of the siding
The en-suite bath features a shower with glass doors and geometric tiles, top-lit from the skylight above
The Eames Ave facade now includes color blocks of gray vertical boards juxtaposed with charred horizontal cedar siding
Project Location: Amherst, MA
Design Partner: Workroom Design Studio
Builder: Holden Builders
Approx. SF: 1995
Project Type: Deep Energy Retrofit, addition and renovation
Standards/Certifications: HERS Rating -3
Project Timeline: completed 2020
Project Story:
These clients wanted to live in the middle of it all, and appreciated the charm of older homes, but didn't want the discomfort and inefficiency. This home was the perfect deep energy retrofit candidate: a great location (one of Amherst's last dirt roads), a lovely lot, and a modest footprint, plus enough deferred maintenance that it was time for some real fixes.
We put a new skin around this 1900's kit house, including: super-insulated airtight assemblies, new windows, high-efficiency heating, cooling, and ventilation, plus a main bedroom with en suite bathroom, and home office addition. We've insulated and dried out the basement (a must with Amherst's high water table) and added a comfortable front porch. A couple of triple-glazed skylights bring light to the stair and an upstairs bathroom, and the rebuilt garage hosts a new workspace above.The project wrapped up with installation of permaculture-inspired, pollinator-friendly, Conservation Commission-approved landscaping.
Photo Credit: Danielle Tait (exteriors) and Lynne Graves (interiors)