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Nathaniel Tollefson, AIA; Isaac Tapp, Assoc. AIA

Harriet House

This home is part of our new Small Projects Showcase, which highlights the skill, creativity, and innovative design thinking architects bring to residential projects 600 square feet or smaller.

Project Type: Remodel & Addition

Project Square Footage: 300 square feet | energy-efficient retrofit, new porch, mudroom

In conjunction with a new mudroom and remodeled front porch, this classic Minneapolis two-story home received a full energy retrofit including continuous exterior insulation, new siding, windows, mechanical systems, and a full solar shingle roof to drastically reduce the home's energy needs and all but eliminate direct reliance on fossil fuels. Utilizing new materials and building strategies, the owner-architect was able to achieve his energy reduction goals while modernizing the home's exterior in a way that simultaneously stands out from and pays homage to its more traditional surroundings.

Framework for Design Excellence: Design for Energy

Harriet House set out to prove it is possible to achieve greater energy efficiency in older homes without sacrificing contemporary design aesthetics. The ultimate goal of the project was to reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint as much as possible while retaining and enhancing the understated curb appeal of a traditional two story home. In addition to a new mudroom, the house received a full energy retrofit including continuous exterior insulation, new siding, windows, mechanical systems, and a full solar shingle roof to drastically reduce the home's energy needs and all but eliminate reliance on fossil fuels. The project utilizes relatively new materials to achieve a contemporary aesthetic without feeling out of place in a neighborhood of mostly traditional homes. Fiber cement siding panels typically seen on multi-family or commercial projects operate as a rain screen in conjunction with exterior insulation (mineral wool) to simultaneously improve the home’s performance and curb appeal.

What is the AIA Framework for Design Excellence? Learn more »