Architect: Hawkins & Associates | Category: Single Family Residential | Location: Reno, NV
Project Overview
The site dictated everything in the design of this custom residence that resides on the edge between Reno and the Sierra foothills. The home is surgically cut into the rocky ridge with all of the non-habitable space buried below the residence. This allowed the main level of the home to parallel the ridge and capture city views to the east and pristine mountain views to the west. The home protects the exterior living area and pool from strong winds from the west all year long. The intent of the design was to have the residence sit in the native eastern Sierra environment with only minimal landscaping.
The large garage and basement rest underground and reduce the scale of the overall project, allowing the main residence to appear as a low-slung one-story home stretching along the one small buildable ridge of the five-acre parcel. There is a small two-story ADU with living, dining, bathroom and a small sleeping loft. The home with ADU appears as a complex of four modest, linked pavilions rather than one large structure, breaking up the scale of the residence. The house features a large patio and pool deck areas with enhanced natural landscaping. The home rests on a concrete-walled base with mostly steel, glass and stucco-finished walls above. The residence was designed with hot water solar and solar voltaic energy systems with radiant heating and cooling for the primary mechanical system.
2023 AIA Nevada Juror’s Commentary
Beautiful site. Clean use of materials, with low clean lines. Sustainable materials and responding to environmental conditions of hot sun, with overhangs for shading. Owner self-performed concrete work. Honest and minimal materials. Works within environment it is in — not traditional, big pitched roof. Light touch on the landscape. Would love to see more on the auxiliary house … simultaneously modest and sophisticated!
Sustainability
The structure uses large overhangs to help protect the glazing from the heat in the summer. The building envelope is over-insulated with foam insulation in the walls, flooring and roof cavities. The mechanical system is efficient with all radiant heating and cooling in the concrete floor slab. There is ample daylight in the home, reducing the need for artificial light during normal daylight hours. The house is designed to block the strong winds from the exterior deck and patio areas, but the fenestration allows for cross ventilation in all of the living areas. All appliances were selected to be energy efficient and all lighting was specified as LED. The home is prepped to accept (4) hot water solar panels to supplement the radiant heating and domestic hot water. All paints and finishes were specified for low VOC content.
Materials
The exterior materials for this residence were selected for low maintenance, durability, sustainable life-cycle and the harsh northern Nevada exposures. Concrete became the exterior finish where possible, as well as appearing in some interior spaces. Large overhangs protect the home from intense sun in the summer while allowing for some passive in the winter. The large soffits are stained Douglas fir that will not need maintenance due to their location relative to the sun angles. Steel accents of paneling, railings and fascia will remain beautiful and maintenance-free for a year. The interiors also consist of an honest and minimal pallet of materials, consisting of polished concrete floors, natural stone countertops and walnut millwork throughout the home.
