Project: Alys Beach Home, Alys Beach, Fla. Size: 2,400 square feet Cost: $1.999 million (listed price) Completed: May 2006 Certifications: IBHS Fortified…for safer living; Florida Green Building Coalition (Green Home Standard) Architect: Doug Farr Associates, Chicago Builder: Alys Beach Construction, Alys Beach General Contractor: Wave Construction, Panama City Beach, Fla. Interiors: Alys Beach Interiors, Alys Beach Town Planner: Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co., Miami
Developer: EBSCO Gulf Coast Development, Panama City Beach
Credit: Kurt Lischka
When architect Doug Farr, AIA, sat down to sketch residential designs for Alys Beach, a new resort town along Florida’s northern Gulf Coast, he had all but the pencil taken out of his hand from the get-go. The town’s codes, covenants, and regulations practically dictated what he could draw: courtyard homes inspired by those in Bermuda and Guatemala on 40-foot-by-90-foot, east-west-oriented parcels that gave no clue to the energy and resource efficiencies required to meet the designation standards of the Florida Green Building Coalition and the “fortified home” specs of the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).
“It took some tenacity to work through that,” says Farr, who runs his architectural firm out of Chicago.
The result, however, is a wonderful marriage of aesthetic execution and building performance. The one sketch of Farr’s that was actually built, a 2,400-square-foot attached home, showcases the architect’s creativity within those limitations, namely the use of insulated composite masonry walls and operable clerestory windows that effectively address natural light, passive solar and ventilation, and mold-resistance issues. In addition, a concealed (yet generous) rooftop photovoltaic array and geothermal heating and cooling system were critical to the home’s ability to live comfortably and be 71% more energy efficient than code minimum.
“I think we proved that you can have architectural quality and the green stuff under incredible constraints,” says Farr. The Chicago chapter of the AIA agreed, awarding the house its 2007 Design Excellence Award for Environmental Sustainability.
Awards and other accolades aside, Farr is most proud of providing a piece to the ongoing puzzle of creating workable, walkable neighborhoods. Conceived by Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co. (DPZ), the masterminds of Seaside (Fla.) and nearly 300 other town plans worldwide, the 158-acre Alys Beach community turns back the clock to when density and diversity were politically and architecturally valued.
“DPZ has been very critical of well-intended environmentalists calling for more ‘open space’ in a new town plan,” says Farr. “That idea undercuts the basic tenets of a vibrant and sustainable neighborhood.”
Though Alys Beach boasts a 20-acre wildlife preserve, it’s located on the northern edge of town. Closer to its waterfront swath of white beach, the community’s main attraction, buildings are densely packed within a walkable street grid that facilitates cooling breezes and direct sight lines to the Gulf.
As the town plan stretches away from the water, density logically loosens. “It’s the basic organization of a human settlement that creates a place people like to live,” says Galina Tahchieva, director of town planning for DPZ. “It’s not high-level thinking. We [as an industry] have just forgotten how they work.”
For his part, Farr didn’t forget how courtyard homes work. Though he likes the style for its charm, privacy, efficient use of land, and access to open-air outdoor space, he also knows that such homes can be tough to ventilate naturally or fill with daylight. To solve the problem, he penciled in operable clerestory windows along the base of the roof deck to direct light and air into the main living area.
“With the [eave] shading and the wall assembly, the house is designed to be comfortable without using the air conditioning,” says Farr. Even if the A/C did come on, the fact that the geothermal system—a standard spec for all Alys Beach homes—does not require an outside compressor eliminates the distracting din of whirring fans throughout the neighborhood, another aspect of comfort.
The exterior walls he refers to are thick masonry with a layer of rigid foam insulation finished with white stucco, an assembly designed to serve as a thermal mass (absorbing heat and then releasing as the house cools) and to be mold-resistant.
The home’s construction also satisfies the IBHS’ “Fortified…for safer living” program standards designed to improve its resistance to natural disasters—in this case, primarily high winds and rain. The program includes geographically specific standards for windows and doors and promotes better connections between the roof, walls, and foundation, among other specifications. “It meets the most stringent storm codes and standards,” says Farr.
Farr’s favorite feature, however, is the roof deck, a long, tiled stretch of outdoor living space concealed by the gable roof on the front of the house and buffered from the back by the array of PV panels. Fitted with a sky-blue trellis, the deck offers an oasis for open-air cooking, dining, and stargazing.
"It’s my attempt to encourage an outdoor lifestyle,” he says, debunking the myth that such spaces are wasted in hot and humid climates. “You actually can go out there most of the day; it’s just you and the sky, a world without air conditioning.” Now that’s refreshing.
Rich Binsacca is a freelance writer in Boise, Idaho.
Architect Doug Farr poses in his Chicago office, September 23, 2008.
Credit: JOHN GRESS
PROFILE: Doug Farr, AIA President & CEO, Farr Associates
Doug Farr is no stranger to green. For 20 years he’s taken a comprehensive view of the concept that only now is gaining mainstream appreciation. “Urbanism is a framework for green building,” says Farr, whose activities include the Congress for New Urbanism and the LEED-ND committee. “What we need is not just CFLs and Priuses, but walkable, transit-served communities with high-performance buildings.”
Farr’s passion for urbanism developed as he grew up in Detroit and witnessed the out-migration of the city’s core during the first energy crisis of the early 1970s. In architecture school, Farr followed an interest in passive solar and honed an appreciation for high-performance building. He eventually landed in Chicago, where his proposal for a local AIA competition outlining a community along one of the city’s elevated commuter rail spurs was used as a political wedge to repair and upgrade the line—and thus inspire new development along its path.
His “ah-ha” moment came a decade ago when he merged his interests and experiences with transit-oriented design, sustainable building practices, and new urban infrastructure for the LEED-Platinum Chicago Center for Green Technology. “LEED has created a new measure for marketing green,” he says, that has logically led to more specific rating systems within the program, including neighborhoods … bringing Farr full circle in his quest.
Range
The Thermador Professional Series 48-inch Pro Grand dual-fuel range features four burners and a 24-inch griddle. Its dual-fuel design enables the most energy-efficient cooking possible, with gas for the elements and electric convection for the ovens. The pair of ovens offer 2.5- and 5.7-cubic-inch capacity, respectively. Electronic temperature control indicators for the burners enable optimum settings and promote safety. 800.735.4328. www.thermador.com.
Refrigerator
Sub-Zero’s large-capacity, Energy Star-approved refrigerator-freezer (650 Over/Under) features a shallow-depth design for easy access to any area and front venting for a fully built-in installation. A dual refrigeration system ensures fresh food and energy efficiency, using less energy than a 100-watt light bulb per DOE testing standards. 800.222.7820. www.subzero.com.
Flooring
Recycled-content terrazzo floor tiles from Wausau Tile use 100% recycled glass (33% by weight) to capture the look of a traditional terrazzo flooring with a variety of colors, including blue, green, clear, brown, and red. The standard palette of 18 colors can be mixed and matched to create custom looks. 800.388.8728. www.wausautile.com.
Windows and Terrace Doors
Given the real and recent potential for violent storms along the Gulf Coast, the house features single-hung, low-E insulated windows and French terrace doors from Loewen. All are equipped with the company’s StormForce MP system of structural enhancements and monolithic laminated glass to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, and pass Miami-Dade County test protocols. The engineered Douglas fir frames are clad with aluminum, available in 36 colors, on the exterior. Window sashes tilt for easy cleaning; terrace doors are hinged on the outside to allow both panels to operate from the middle. 800.563.9367. www.loewen.com.
Photovoltaics
The home’s solar electric (PV) system is installed at a slight south/west tilt on a flat roof section adjacent to the outdoor kitchen, enabling easy access to the panels and keeping them off the home’s sloped roof to maintain aesthetics. The BP Solar modules feature polycrystalline cell technology and 92% transmission through the glass top pane to capture more solar energy. The grid-tied Solaris XP inverter from Alpha efficiently converts DC power to AC and offers built-in battery backup and net-metering capability. The system delivers up to 4.8 kWh of free electricity, significantly offsetting energy costs. BP Solar: 866.277.6527. www.bp.com. Alpha: 360.647.2360. www.alpha.com.
Roofing
Flat concrete roof tiles from Entegra are finished bright white per the neighborhood design guidelines and to effectively reflect heat from the attic and living spaces. Roof temperatures are 30 degrees F cooler than asphalt, which helps reduce cooling energy loads. The 13-inch tiles present a uniform, tailored roofline for an upscale look. They are available in smooth (specified), tapered shake, and slate-look styles. 800.586.7663. www.entegra.com.