Pub. 1 2018 Directory

44 NORTHERN NEVADA ARCHITECTECTURE .18 | 2018 | www.aiann.org INTERVIEW 850 HILL LANE Architects: Joan Blumenfeld, FAIA, FIIDA, LEED AP and Robert Krone,AIA, LEED AP Client: Joan Blumenfeld and Robert Krone Builder: Robert Krone (owner/builder) Completion Date: 2017 Structural Engineer: McElhaney Structural Engineers HVAC: Mount Rose Heating and Air Conditioning/ Western Nevada Supply Landscape: JanaVanderhaar/Jeannene Krone Lighting: HDLC Architectural Lighting Design Photography: Max Krone Project Description: This sustainable and innovative house, performing to Passive House standards, is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 10 miles west of Reno in Verdi. The 2,150 sf residence was built by two architects for their own use on the edge of the Toiyabe National Forest; the natural beauty of the site and the stunning views of the Truckee River Valley became the resonant themes for the project, along with the architects’ desire to build responsibly and economically. In the main space of the house, three sets of south-facing 11’ high by 9’ wide sliding doors open to the view, along with a fourth set in the master bedroom. The windows serve a dual purpose, as apertures to the hills and wildlife beyond, and also as passive solar collectors. The house’s Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) structure serves the dual purpose of super-insulating the house and of being fire resistant, as the house is in a fire hazard zone. Even the roof and overhang are concrete, with high R values (29.5 for the walls, and 57 for the roof) because of the foam integral to the system along with added insulation. The house is fossil fuel free and performing within Passive House standards—it is heated and cooled by a heat pump, with tempered 55 degree water provided by a 750’ shallow ground loop geothermal system. Interview: Joan Blumenfeld and Robert Krone recently relocated to Reno, after spending their most of their careers in New York. Joan is a Principal at Perkins and Will working on both architectural interiors and architectural design and former president of the NYC AIA chapter. Robert had his own practice focusing on multi-family projects. We interviewed them about their experience designing and building their own home. What brought you to Reno?: Skiing and family ties. We’ve been coming out here for ski vacations, it’s been our dream to be out here full time. What challenges did you face in the construction of your home? The biggest challenge was that we were still located in New York when the construction of the home began. Robert acted as the Owner/Builder – there was no GC. Because some aspects of the house, such as the ICF technology or the ground source heat pump, were not run of the mill, there were lots of discussions with subcontractors that needed to be had in person. It was difficult to make progress while only being onsite for a week or two at a time. We are both picky. We wanted it the way we wanted it, so it was hard not being at the house. Construction costs also went up a lot while we were building our home, which caused us to significantly exceed our budget. Everybody is so busy around here. Also, the concrete overhangs were made from complicated handbuilt-forms. We might have rethought that and done something more conventional like steel.

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