Green Gambrel
Green Gambrel
West Newton, MA
When presented with the opportunity to renovate and expand his own home, LDa Principal Treff LaFleche made the commitment to design and construct the home with the goal of obtaining LEED for Homes Certification. To accomplish this goal, careful attention was given to the design and construction methods used to execute the project to both achieve a sustainable, highly energy-efficient home while also preserving the valuable original exterior and interior architectural fabric of this 1906 Victorian.
For this project, Treff chose to create a subtle, but inspiring seam between the existing and new volumes. On the driveway side of this “seam”, a new back stair hall and tower were placed, reinforcing the traditional architectural origins of the home. On the garden side, the seam is defined by a contemporary, copper-clad chimney and fireplace. The rear of the Gambrel-style Victorian was given new life through a surgical interior and exterior renovation/addition, which includes a fully glazed family room, open kitchen, mud room, breakfast area and new bedrooms. All materials, details, furnishings, and fixtures in the original portion of the house were either preserved or designed with a traditional architectural character, while inside the new addition, a more contemporary vocabulary prevails. By retaining and insulating the original structure, using efficient systems, and choosing sustainable materials, the home will have a second life as a highly energy efficient, comfortable structure. The home is the first gut rehab to earn LEED certification in the Boston metro area.
Team
Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors
Interior Design: LDa Architecture & Interiors
Photographers: Eric Roth Photography, Peter Vanderwarker
Publications
Design New England, May/June 2010 "LEED by Example"
Boston Globe, November 14, 2010 "Some Like it Hot"
Awards
2009 American Institute of Architecture, Show How You Re-Green - Green Housing Award
Certifications
LEED for Homes, Certified