Family Smart Dwelling
A thoughtful home for an architect and his family where traditional building strategies allow for sustainable family living.
HOUSE DESCRIPTION:
The ‘Family Smart Dwelling’ has been designed for contemporary living in the heart of a traditional Downers Grove neighborhood. The concept for the home was based on using traditional building methods and materials to create a high performance, LEED Certified home that functioned for everyday family life in a elevated design environment. While the design of the home is a contrast to the traditional surrounding homes, materials such as composite / wood siding, masonry, and color scheme allows the home to work within the streetscape of the neighborhood.
The design of the home was specific for the day to day life of the architect and his family and was the driving force of the design. Natural light fills the rooms through high efficiency windows and doors into hallways and stair wells while the deep roof overhangs shade the glazing from the summer sun. Open living spaces allow for family interaction and summer / fall breezes to flow through the home. The rear of the home opens onto a covered porch for gatherings and has views of the sun filled yard. Smart home features such as HVAC controls, security, motorized shading and A/V controls are integrated into day to day living.
In addition, resiliency and efficiency were at the forefront of the material and fixture selections. Composite and cedar siding over an integrated water management / sheathing / continuous foam insulation system created a thermal break beyond the 2×6, insulated, wall construction. The standing seam metal roof gives longevity to the exterior well beyond a traditional shingled roof. Local sourced cabinets, induction cooking, LED lighting, 96% efficient HVAC system with energy recovery ventilation add to the overall comfort and efficiency of the home.
The property that this home sits was passed down to the owners from the architect’s father who passed in 2013. The importance of the home comes from the memories of times past and creating a sustainable home for the family moving forward.
SIZE: 3,400 square feet
PROJECT TYPE: Single Family – New Construction
CERTIFICATIONS:
HERS Rating (Achieved)
LEED for Homes (Pending)
BUILDER:
Widler Architectural Inc.
4827 Washington St., Downers Grove, IL 60515
773-349-2724
widlerarch.com
Widler Architectural is a full-service architecture firm that will take your vision and turn it into a functional, elegant space. Whether you’re looking to embark on a home remodel or a photo-ready showroom, Widler Architectural can convert your ideas into achievable designs.
WEBSITES:
Project Website: https://widlerarch.com/portfolio/washington-st-downers-grove-il/