Size: 3 townhomes: each 1600 sf
Floorplans and Elevations
First
Second
Third
Rooftop
South Elevation
North Elevation
East-West Elevations
Aerial View
Price range: $249,000 and $269,000
Presale information: elemental@pragmaticconstruction.com
Building architects: Chris Socha and Charlie Simonds
Location:
2800 N. Pierce St. Milwaukee WI, 53212
Near to: Alterra's
new headquarters (Humboldt and Chambers), schools, cafe's and
restaurants (incl. Nessun
Dorma, West
Bank Cafe', parks (Garden park, Gordon Park, etc.), and other
amenities.
Google's
map to site
Layout
Info
3 Bedroom – 2.5 bath - sun-drenched living areas - space-maximizing
floor plans - roof deck patio-gardens - optimized storage - 2-car
garages - deep windows.
Design Elements
The Elemental townhomes have been designed to the heights of sustainability
and energy efficiency to provide the best possible environment for
green living. Unlike most modern construction, the elemental townhomes
have been designed to work with the four elements rather than against
them.
Patterns
implemented in the design of the building- Socha/Simonds 2007
Diverse Fabric
Problem: The
southwest corner of Hadley and Pierce resides in an enclave or Riverwest
with both a distinct feel and eclectic mix of building styles. Typical two story wood frame homes built to a
common line dominate the landscape, however brick boxes and unexpected
shapes appear intermittently. A building that fails to respect the
existing scales, proportions, and diversity will feel out of place.
Solution: The
building must be no more than three stories tall, pick up on the human
scale of the neighboring homes, create a strong street presence, and
use a mix of both "hard" and "soft" building surfaces
that reflect the area's range of building materials.
Seeing Green:
Problem:
This project is to utilize affordable green building practices in
an aggressive, understandable manner. Often green systems are poorly
integrated into building design and look either out of place or go
unnoticed.
Solution:
The building should thoughtfully integrate design features like south
facing glazing, operable windows, solar control and sustainable materials
while calling attention to extraordinary amenities like green roofs,
rain gardens, etc.
Elongated Shell
Problem:
Town homes often utilize deep and narrow building volumes that fail
to capture light or allow natural ventilation.
Solution: Create
a long thin building along the southern edge no more than twenty four
feet deep. Provide large window openings along the south facade that
accept controlled daylight. Use operable windows wherever possible
and locate additional windows on the north to encourage cross ventilation.
Soak up the Rain
Problem:
Large impervious buildings can displace storm creating pollution and
water management problems.
Solution: Explore
the use of green terraced roof construction, pervious hardscape driving
surfaces, and rain gardens. Celebrate these features as visually expressive
amenities.
Simple Building Systems
Problem: A
quality developer-driven project must be able to utilize clear building
systems that allow for ease of construction and coordination.
Solution: Coordinate
building systems so that materials are: handled less, fall into common
dimensions that reduce waste and allow for ease of construction. Floor
plans and elevations should be flexible enough to work within known
construction methods while also balancing the need for subtle design
changes where required. Work to bundle HVAC, electrical and plumbing
systems in concentrated, isolated runs where possible.
Green
Systems Integrated
| Green
System |
Description |
Benefit(s) |
|
AAC
Aerated autoclaved concrete
|
The
number one building material in all of northern Europe- is a
structural wall system and insulation all in one. Energy-efficient,
Virtually indestructible, fireproof, and composed primarily
of a waste product from coal-fired power plants, AAC is the
greenest and most sensible building material available.
|
Super-insulating
Category 4 tornado
safe
Fire, mold, pest proof
No thermal bridging
No air infiltration
Quiet
|
|
Passive solar design
|
Building
south facing, optimized glazing and super insulation allows most
of the building heating to occur naturally
|
Utility
savings
Day lighting
|
| Flat-panelsolar
hot watersystem |
Flat-panel
solar hot water generation provides up to 50 percent of winter
hot water needs and 100 percent of summer generation.
|
Utility
savings |
| Passive
cooling design |
Building
design captures prevailing breezes for passive cooling. Skylights
provide chimney effect cooling.
|
Utility
savings |
| Pella Impervia
Windows |
Fiberglass
composite windows offer high energy performance and exceptional
durability |
Durability
Thermal performance
Low maintenance
|
| Reclaimed
Cream City Brick and Hardwood Floors |
Cream
city brick and Hardwood floors reclaimed from Milwaukee demolition
sites and refinished to their original state offer beauty and
preserve local history |
Old
world quality and beauty
Historic preservation
|
| Green Roof |
Semi-intensive
green roofing offers rooftop green space, mitigates storm water runoff and provides a
roof deck garden for cultivation of flowers
and vegetables |
Added
thermal and sound
Insulation Storm water
mitigation
Rooftop garden
|
| Steel Roof |
Standing
seam steel roofing can last over 100 years nearly maintenance
free and contains no petroleum products to contaminate rainwater |
Durability
Low maintenance
Clean runoff
|
| Healthy
paints and finishes |
All paints
and finishes are formaldehyde free and contain low or no v.o.c.s
to provide healthy air |
Healthy
Non-toxic environment
|
| High-efficiency
HVAC and appliances |
HVAC
system and all appliances are sealed-combustion and energy-star
certified to minimize operating expenses. And maximize safety.
All fixtures are low-flow, reducing indoor water usage by 40
percent
|
Utility
savings
Healthy environment
|
| Compact
Development: |
Uses
land efficiently, supports a range of transportation options,
conserve open space, and reduces need for vehicles
|
Convenience |
| Humidity
Control |
Has humidity
control equipment to provide a comfortable thermal environment
and prevent mold growth |
Comfort
Health
|
| Lighting |
Building
maximizes day lighting, has infrared and motion sensors for external
lighting, uses CFLs and/or LEDs. |
Utility Savings
|
| Green
Built Home certification |
Demonstrates
the homes have been built to sustainable building and energy
standards.
|
Certification |
| Energy
Star Home certification |
Demonstrates
the homes meet guidelines for energy efficiency set by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency- at least 15 percent more energy
efficient than homes built to the 2004 International Residential
Code (IRC)
|
Certification |
Elemental Townhomes in the News
