We created a tightly-sealed thermal envelope using a special combination of wall, floor, and roof insulation.  Open cell spray foam in the walls and roof stop air movement and prevent water infiltration; closed cell spray foam on the crawlspace walls provide a thermal barrier from below.

Rigid foam insulation under all slabs, on the roof, and on the exterior walls stop thermal bridging, completes the envelope design.The roof and wall framing was then wrapped with rigid foam insulation on the exterior to prevent any thermal bridging, therefore increasing the overall energy performance of the envelope.  Extra steps were taken to properly sequence the construction to ensure that the insulation was installed properly to create a super-high performance envelope.

Ground source heat pumps coupled with a forced air system supply heating and cooling throughout the house. Low-flow plumbing fixtures were specified throughout the house to cut down on water usage.   95% of the electrical fixtures throughout the house have LED or CFL lamps in order to reduce electrical consumption, while a 9.2kW grid-tied solar panel array using Enphase micro-inverters provides additional power for the house.

Using engineered I-joist framing in all exterior walls, floors, and roofs allowed us to achieve longer spans, create a stronger structure, and conserve resources by using less wood in the house.

The main challenge in designing the Cloudman Residence was fully integrating the house into the wooded mountain hillside.  As the grade slopes 13’ from one side of the house to the other, the main floor of the house maintains a consistent level in order to be ADA-accessible.  A foundation ledge receives the main floor framing, allowing us to maintain ADA thresholds between the interior rooms and exterior patios and porches.

The main level was carefully placed mid-slope in order to balance the cut and fill on site, to maintain the natural slope of the site, and to avoid having to blast through granite.  The foundation walls were poured with 20% fly ash and step with grade to minimize the amount of concrete used and to give the impression of the house being an extension of the landscape.