Background:

The Zebuhr House project was submitted to the Boston Society of Architects' Unbuilt Architecture Awards competition after having previously been designed for the client William Zebuhr, but never having been slated for development.  The competition entry sought to redevelop the presentation of the project and highlight it's applicability to conceptual designs of the Unbuilt Architecture competition.

Project Description:

Z  E  B  U  H  R     H  O  U  S  E                 N a s h u a, N H   William Zebuhr - a water purification inventor - is developing this concept for the future of human civilization's increasing populations. It sustainably stops Sprawl onto Existing Unused Land that destroys aesthetics in Historic Built and Natural Environments. It uses Transfer of Development Rights [TDR] with preservation restrictions on the surrounding developable land. This forever preserves civilization's health by the inspiration derived from historic and natural environments.
This concept can end the use of Grid Power, Grid Water, Grid Sewage and Grid Landfill Waste. It can provide its own needs while reducing Traffic Congestion with its mixed-use walkable commercial Vertical Village. It motivates alternative vehicle evolution outside on a network of bike-walk-pathways in the TDR Park’s interconnected easements throughout its core region.
Increased density on a small footprint with added height creates a connected village that promotes resource efficiency. The inter-community contact through common accessible density in public spaces and pathways will be filled with plant life, natural light and people. These all inspire the mind by increased human and natural contact.
Energy comes from gas bio-digesters, solar and friendly Helical Vertical Axis Wind Turbines with both lift and drag forces. Their low noise, flicker, vibration and RPMs are tied down from observation decks through the core cylinders. The proprietary distiller provides fresh water as it processes wastes and gases. The glass exposure allows passive solar heat while inspiring minds in horizon views.

The developer - an Inventor who wants to create Sustainable Futures - hired an architect with similar innovative experience in solar design as himself going back to the 1973 Oil Embargo. Their plan is to develop construction documents with as much competitive bidding possible considering some innovative concepts in cutting edge concepts evolving sustainable systems. 

The architectural program was to resolve as many of civilization's needs within the inevitable expansion of population while preserving and protecting human environments sustainable forever. 

This is both original and an adaptation of the state of the art systems in sustainable design.

The project will make great effort to stop Sprawl by preserving open land whether it is undeveloped or currently unused brown fields to be regenerated. It will stop public Grid uses in; Power, Water, Sewage and Landfill. This region's high heat energy needs will be served by a maximum of Geothermal, Solar Wind and Recycled mass by William Zebuhr's proprietary systems that will be developed and utilized. The structure is highly earthquake, fire and explosion proof by steel reinforced concrete cylinder towers that are radially braced while providing floor load bearing and 3 way waffle grids.

There will be rolling wheel access everywhere in this project from the park grade paths up to the roof decks by ramps. The only spaces non wheel accessible spaces are the egress stairs and the top of the Helical VAWT observation tower that will have video active control viewing to below.

The surrounding transportation systems will be connected to the Vertical Village by the TDR undeveloped land easements over private land and public roads as necessary. Over time more easements can be added to keep the maximum alternative travel network separate from the existing road traffic thus reducing it as the local low speed network expands.

The project is a 600 unit residential mixed use community over a ground floor parking garage with level decks that can evolve into expanding commercial space as cars become less numerous. It has an estimated $300 million dollar cost with an average per Sq Ft cost of $200 with 150,000sf interior and 100,000sf garage & future commercial. Some economies will come from single cost multiple function systems like; steel reinforced concrete augmenting by permanent formwork that is only installed and then remains as wall finishes, Tensile thin steel load carrying floors from a roof truss in multiple story span over the Atrium Cliff Parks and building envelope modular insulation panel systems. 

Developer; William Zebuhr, Nashua, NH. Architect; Metcalfe Associates, Northampton, MA. Personnel; Tristram W. Metcalfe, T. Walker Metcalfe, Noah Geupel. Nashua, NH Planning Department.

Additional Narrative:

Zebuhr House is designed to augment the intersection between civil society and the natural world.  Its primary goal is to preserve unbuilt, natural landscapes.  The high-density, vertical village uses Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs) to purchase zoning capacity from owners of surrounding undeveloped land, and preserve it.  The building’s small footprint ensures minimal environmental impact, while its verticality allows for high-density housing.
Unlike conventional high-rise structures, Zebuhr House seeks to create a community built on shared spaces and values.  Environmental awareness and social interaction will coincide in everyday life as residents of the Zebuhr House make use of the shared communal green spaces that punctuate the building’s circulation routes.  An on-site, mixed-use commercial village will reduce the need for off-site trips, while the building’s verdant circulation network – which will extend out into the surrounding, TDR-preserved landscape – will promote alternative transportation, and reduce traffic.
Key elements of this “verdant circulation network” include the central public atrium – a social hub for the building community – and the wrap-around “sidewalk-balconies” that provide both private, “front-yard” green exterior spaces, and also connect neighbors to one another.  In addition to promoting social interaction and community involvement, the “sidewalk-balconies” and central atrium will fill the building with plant life and natural light, thus sustaining a healthy and natural environment and providing/enhancing social stimuli.
Zebuhr House embraces a “net-zero” goal, eliminating reliance on grid power, water and waste treatment systems.  Energy will be supplied on-site by a gas biodigester and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines.  Heating and cooling loads are minimized by efficient glazing, passive solar heat, and operable natural ventilation in the building’s open spaces.  Finally, rainwater collection is combined with a waste water purification system to provide potable water, and an integrated hydroponics system supplies nutrients to the abundant plant-life.