La Casa Media Naranja, the Grier Residence, is an excellent example of sustainable, contemporary, forward-thinking design.  This home uses the Passive House approach for energy conservation and to achieve site-zero energy consumption.   The building is cutting-edge; an environmentally conscious design that shows how construction methods must constantly evolve in order to efficiently counter challenges of both energy efficiency and social responsibility without premium additional cost.

The clients, both economics professors, wanted a Passive House built on an extremely tight budget: $180/sf including all soft costs.  The house had to take advantage of the panoramic views; one of the primary objectives of many who move to the Southwest. The expansive glass was a challenge in this design and was overcome with two simple approaches; first to concentrate all of the glass in the living area in one location versus having multiple openings and secondly, to utilize simple, outdoor, retractable shading devices to mitigate overheating in the summer. This shading device was designed using local tradesmen and simple technology and was exceptionally affordable. The 14’ X 8’ automatic exterior sunshade was $4800.00 installed.

The massing is a simple pattern of rectangles and triangles contained in an ordered structure of regular and irregular forms.  This order interrupts a repetitive linear rhythm creating playful spaces that blur the indoor/outdoor boundary. The building is loosely arranged, allowing sunlight multiple opportunities to light and shadow, creating beautiful patterns inside and out.  The design succeeds in bringing the landscape deep into the home, introducing a noticeably airy feel, reinforced by beautiful views from every room.  The outdoor space is designed to offer either an intimate space for residents to enjoy privately or it can work as extended entertainment space.

Playful was an important design criteria for the owners.  One of the few areas where they allowed themselves to stretch their budget was in the custom window colors.  The interior finish is a bright yellow and the exterior is a brilliant orange.  This celebration of color at the openings contributes to the play between indoors and outdoors and also serves as an accent for the owner’s vibrant art collection and interior design taste.  They have accented rooms with bright furniture and the tribal and local art collections they have gathered from trips around the globe as well as from local artists and craftsmen.

The irregular shape of the house was the design response to capture the magnificent views and optimize solar heat gain.  The less desirable east and west openings were reduced, while the north and south openings were expanded to create a perfect passive solar orientation.  The addition of the roof terrace gives the occupants a 360 degree viewing opportunity without compromising the energy performance of the house.

Water conservation is another critical concern in the Southwest.  This house utilizes passive methods of water conservation.  In addition to using low flow water fixtures throughout the house, the landscape was designed to retain and use the rain water for the trees and vegetation around the house.  A small vegetable garden on the south side of the house will also be supported by the collected water.

This all-electric, Passive House certified, home reaches beyond net-zero energy consumption.  The high quality of construction components also protects against building damage and improves the sense of comfort.  These high standards are paying for themselves from the outset, as there are immediate and considerable savings in terms of energy costs.  Also, the 3KW PV system provides a surplus of energy for the occupants for years to come.