Delphi Haus
Olympia, Wash.
Entrant/Builder/Architect/Interior Designer: The Artisans Group
Photographer: Kristina Wunsch / Poppi Photography
Size: 2,400 sf
Hard cost, excluding land: $340/sf
Designed with both environmental sustainability and the specific aging-in-place and lifestyle accommodations of its owners in mind, Delphi Haus elevates the possibilities for Passive design. Taking into consideration the client’s sensitivity to direct sunlight, The Artisans Group, based in Olympia, Wash., created a deep, covered porch, cedar-clad soffits, and an architectural light shelf, all working in tandem to brighten the main floor via redirected light.
Universal design features such as wide hallways and threshold-free showers make the home wheelchair accessible. “We were able to design a house that would allow the homeowners to live independently in perpetuity,” says Tessa Smith, project architect.
The certified Passive House, which draws heat from a hydronic system that incorporates a high-efficiency propane water heater and a heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system, is roughly 70 percent more efficient than a code-built home of equal size, with energy costs of approximately $20 per month. Sustainably sourced materials such as recycled glass countertops and cork flooring were used wherever possible. Durable, low-maintenance materials, including a standing-seam metal roof, painted fiber-cement siding, and charred cedar siding (also known as shou sugi ban) protect the exterior from the harsh, wind-swept climate of the Pacific Northwest. —Robin Roenker
Want more? Click to see the other winners of the 2018 Professional Builder Design Awards.
See more photos of this project below.
Related Stories
Custom Builder
Delaware Builder Is First Woman to Receive NAHB’s Custom Builder of the Year Award
Delaware-based Marnie Oursler, president of Marnie Custom Homes, was awarded Custom Builder of the Year for her achievements in housing innovation in the custom home market
Innovation
Ivory Innovations Announces 25 Finalists for 2023 Ivory Prize
Ivory Innovations recently revealed its 25 finalists for the 2023 Ivory Prize. This year's finalists demonstrated ambitious solutions to the housing affordability crisis and were selected from 203 nominees
NAHB
Here Are the Winners of the 2023 NAHB Student Competition
The National Association of Home Builders' annual Student Competition showcased young talent from across the country at the 2023 International Builders' Show