Two Rocks House Energy performance and sensory delight make a home for the long term
1 1. The highly energy efficient Two Rocks house has a modern aesthetic and is rooted to the land.
By Judyann Obersi and Lorrie Rand Two Rocks is a 4,500+ square-foot Net-Zero Passive House that stands at the edge of a forest, overlooking Nova Scotia’s Gaspereau Valley and the Minas Basin beyond. The homeowners wanted an exceptional home, built with environmental responsibility as a top priority. Aesthetically, the goal was to create a distinctive, modern home that felt warm, comfortable, and rooted to the land.
Interior finishes were selected to nurture the senses with textural shifts over time. Polished concrete and maple hardwood floors reflect the abundant natural light throughout the home, while hexagonal floor tiles with speckled aggregate simulate natural patterns. Maple is brought in again as the stair finish, and the stair walls are lined with maple veneer. Crafted built-in shelving and cupboards are also made of maple veneer plywood. Raw steel beams support the exposed loft floor structure and the loft railings are steel as well.
Inspired by the site’s richly textured meadow, Habit Studio followed a biophilic design approach to create a tactile materials palette for the interior and exterior. Finishes were chosen for longevity and ease of maintenance.
Habit Studio includes beauty and pleasure as fundamental aspects of sustainable design, with the idea that a building high in sensory comfort and delight will stand the test of time in meeting the expectations of owners without need for future renovation.
On the outside, the walls are clad in locally-milled pine planks treated with LifeTime wood treatment to weather to a silvery patina. Charred cedar accents and a standing seam metal roof complete the durable enclosure.
The technical objectives for the project were energy efficiency, healthy indoor air quality, and the use of long-lasting, environmentally responsible materials. As a Passive House, the home is 80% more energy efficient than a code compliant home before the addition of a 24kW solar photovoltaic array, which brings the house to an ERS rating of 0.
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FALL 2022 | ATLANTIC FOCUS
