William Kite Architects Inc. Principal Christine Malecki West has designed what is expected to be Providence’s first new single-family home to earn U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design status. The project, a Native Structures development, broke ground last month on the city’s East Side.
Malecki West, who last year won the City of Providence’s first “green” housing design contest, talked with Providence Business News about the sustainable elements of her new project.
PBN: How big is the house? How does the design fit into its East Side neighborhood? And when will construction wrap up?
MALECKI WEST: The design was inspired by many of the Arts and Crafts houses in the neighborhood from the 1930s and is meant to pair old-house charm with modern amenities and technology. With 2,800 square feet of living space, it has four bedrooms and three and a half baths and will be ready for move in by early 2010.
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PBN: This house was designed as a 92-point project on the LEED scale. What does that mean and how unique is it?
MALECKI WEST: It takes real commitment to get to the highest level, LEED Platinum. It means that we’re taking on every aspect of green building in a serious way, from energy issues and the innovative Structural Insulated Panel System method of framing down to the way construction waste will be recycled.
PBN: Tell me a little about using reclaimed material, including the wood from the garage that had been on the site.
MALECKI WEST: We are using the reclaimed Douglas fir beadboard as accents on both the exterior and interior of the house. Old-growth wood like this just can’t be bought new today and it adds a beautiful depth and character to the home. The reclaimed bricks that pave the European-style courtyard also do double duty to let rainwater filter into the ground and stay out of the storm sewer.
PBN: The central airflow and heating-and-cooling system is also innovative, right?
MALECKI WEST: The house has an advanced system that has three modes – the usual heating and cooling, but also a third natural ventilation setting that uses a whole-house fan to keep the house cool and fresh when the weather is pleasant. We made sure to find a thermostat that is easy to use, but also has the capability for interfacing with the internet for the homeowner that wants to keep a detailed eye on their energy use.
PBN: And what other interesting design elements have gone into this house?
MALECKI WEST: I predict the biggest “wow” moment will be the three-story atrium when you enter the front door. It encourages air flow and lets daylight into the center of the house.
The lovely landscaped backyard also has an extra-large deck that uses FSC-certified Ipe wood, which is a sustainable replacement for teak and is incredibly durable. We have a love of detail at Kite that will shine through in things like a custom screen made from reclaimed wood separating the living and dining rooms from the foyer.
