Page 49 - Green Builder Nov-Dec 2020 Issue

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ReVISION House Scottsdale Phase 2

BY MATT POWER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ESIGN MATTERS. TO PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE, you Caveat: Best Laid Plans
might look no further than the daily temperature readings
in Scottsdale, Arizona. Averages keep breaking records. Last We should note, however, that some of these design concepts are familiar,
year, for example, the region had 14 days where temperatures but the technologies have not yet been put to the real world test. That’s part
went above 115 degrees Fahrenheit, and another 312 days of what makes these Green Builder ReVISION projects unique.
where it hovered above 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Climate As demolition and reconstruction progresses over the coming months,
DChange has never seemed so real. we’ll track this project closely, and you’ll be able to see which products,
That new reality has informed the design choices of Steve Easley concepts and plans make it to the finish line.
and Susan Raterman as they move forward with a ReVISION House
remodel of their home in Scottsdale. The pair planned most of the
redesign themselves, although Ed Chavez, AIA, gave meaningful input
and should be credited as the architect of record.

BIG ISSUES
Two concerns have dominated the design of this home: the sweltering
heat outside, and the views from inside. Then the pandemic came along
and added a third goal: creating a “sanctuary” where the couple could
hunker down for long periods in the worst of times.
These goals color the hundreds of design decisions made in the
house, from window placement to overhangs, roofing style and color,
to solar panel placement and the flow of air to to take advantage of
passive cooling.
“Most of the design elements were already in place before the
pandemic,” notes Raterman. “But this crisis really solidified our plans.
For example, we knew we wanted a guest suite, and the coronavirus
changed our views on how to ventilate that space.”
Also, the outdoor living areas took on new importance, according
to Easley. “We’ve always tried to gather outside, but this clinched it,” he
explains. “Our outdoor space — on both ends of the house -- offers us the
possibility to physically distance, and is also an alternative place to work.”
The seating area in the back of the house will include a 24-foot
by 16-foot by 12-foot high covered roof that is specifically angled to
reduce heat gain, yet high enough to maintain a breathtaking view of
the mountains.
Design for WORK ZONES Cooler roofing. Reflective roof membranes over a sandwich of spray
foam and Thermax insulation will decouple the mass of the roof from
Raterman adds that the whole house is “really geared toward separating
living spaces, while solar panels add another barrier to the sun’s
work and personal life.”
relentless heat. This image shows a similar roofing system to the one
That separation becomes apparent with a glance at the new floor
Uncertain Times plan layouts. The second floor will become a telecommuting hub, with planned. CREDIT: SIMON TURNER/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
two side-by-side offices, a workout room and, notably, a lot of extra
Pause for Reflection
soundproofing.
“The two offices will be isolated in terms of sound,” Easley notes.
“We both do webinars on a regular basis, so they need to be super Strict HOA rules required major adjustments
Our cutting edge whole-house quiet.” The offices’ design calls for sound-reducing drywall, gasketing in rooflines to allow for solar.
remodel takes into account and insulation, and solid core doors. All glass in the offices will be One of the obstacles to rebuilding in this golf-course subdivision is strict
laminated to attenuate sound.
extreme heat, pandemic prep rules limiting solar panel visibility. To keep them hidden from sight, Easley and
NEXT STEPS Raterman had to put them on flat roofs over the kitchen and master bedroom
and stay-at-home priorities. The flooring for the Forever House still hasn’t been chosen, although areas. Easley hopes to use bifacial panels over the white, reflective roofing,
Raterman is working with surface manufacturer MSI to choose colors although specific panel types have not been finalized. These double-sided
and materials. panels generate up to 30 percent more power, using light reflected from
“We want the colors to be soothing and circadian,” Easley notes, below them.
“since we spend so much time here.” GB

www.greenbuildermedia.com November/December 2020 GREEN BUILDER 47

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