Montem Villam Passive House

Location
Dalton, PA
Size
6,704 sqft
Status
Complete
Years
2021
Type
Single Family Residential
Bedrooms
4
Baths
4.75
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W4 240815 118470
W6 240815 118444
W26 240815 118684 RT
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W20 240815 118586 RT
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W19 240815 118569
W14 240815 118530
W18 240815 118625
W24 240815 118649
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W27 240815 118715
W15 240815 118506
W16 240815 118503
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W30 240815 118785
W17 240815 118564
W13 240815 118537 RT
W12 240815 118557 RT
W5 240815 118447
W7 240815 118491
W9 240815 0089
montem villam Color Grid 3
W11 240815 0062
montem billam Color Grid 2
W31 240815 118807
W32 LEICA 0026
Default
W2 240815 118422
W1 240815 118405
RPA Costanzo 072921 Site Plan
RPA Costanzo First Floor Plan 072821
RPA Costanzo Second Floor Plan 072821
RPA Costanzo Elevation North 072821
RPA Costanzo Elevation East 072821
RPA Costanzo Elevation South 072821
RPA Costanzo Elevation West 072821
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W3 240815 118456
W4 240815 118470
W6 240815 118444
W26 240815 118684 RT
W25 240815 118663 RT
W20 240815 118586 RT
W21 240815 118615 RT
W28 240815 118730 RT
W29 240815 118766 RT
W19 240815 118569
W14 240815 118530
W18 240815 118625
W24 240815 118649
W22 240815 118634
W27 240815 118715
W15 240815 118506
W16 240815 118503
W23 240815 118645
W30 240815 118785
W17 240815 118564
W13 240815 118537 RT
W12 240815 118557 RT
W5 240815 118447
W7 240815 118491
W9 240815 0089
montem villam Color Grid 3
W11 240815 0062
montem billam Color Grid 2
W31 240815 118807
W32 LEICA 0026
Default
W2 240815 118422
W1 240815 118405
RPA Costanzo 072921 Site Plan
RPA Costanzo First Floor Plan 072821
RPA Costanzo Second Floor Plan 072821
RPA Costanzo Elevation North 072821
RPA Costanzo Elevation East 072821
RPA Costanzo Elevation South 072821
RPA Costanzo Elevation West 072821
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STORY


DESCRIPTION

Montem Villam Passive House is a single-family residence nestled in the mountains surrounding Scranton, Pennsylvania. Commissioned by a family with a generations-long reputation for exceptional building construction, it is emblematic of the movement to modern sustainable luxury home design. A couple began envisioning the place where their two young children would be raised, and their family would thrive. Expectations were extremely high. The husband is a leader in his family’s construction company which has been contributing to the region’s built environment for three generations.
LSM Sketch
Back in 2012, the couple read in the local newspaper that the first Passive House to be built in Northeast Pennsylvania would be open for tours and educational talks as part of International Passive House Days. While the house was still under construction, with exposed framing and mechanical systems, the couple toured the Scranton Passive House, a modest home on a small sloping lot in the city of Scranton which was ultimately recognized as Green Builder Magazine’s 2017 Passive House of the Year. At this event, the owners began a dialogue that grew into a relationship with the architect. Over years, the architect and builder would meet occasionally to discuss advancements in building materials, the progression of the Passive House movement in the U.S., and the advent of prefabricated building strategies. So inspired by this modern approach to home design and building, the owner determined that Passive House would set the standard to which he would build his own family’s home. Approximately five years ago the couple discovered close to ten acres of stunning sub-divided farm property in a desirable area outside the charming village of Waverly, PA near to where the husband grew up himself. With breathtaking south-facing views across rolling hills and overlooking a small lake, this site would become the canvas for the couples’ own modern Passive House. Montem Villam Passive House is a PHIUS Certified home affording numerous invaluable benefits including: increased thermal comfort, greatly improved indoor air quality, unequaled energy efficiency, durability, affordability, as well as, superior sound insulation, low maintenance, and general resiliency. This was the first Passive House building that the owner’s construction firm had taken on. Introducing the construction team and subcontractors to this standard of design and construction increases the awareness and capability for sustainable construction throughout the region.

DESIGN

A couple from “The Electric City” of Scranton, Pennsylvania were passionate about creating the best home it is possible to build – beautiful, modern, healthy, and at one with its natural surroundings with a minimal impact on the environment. As a building contractor obsessively committed to quality in his work, the husband carefully contemplated every detail… mechanical system design, sheetrock installation, millwork finishes, lighting design, and more. Although the couple had similar objectives for the home and a shared desire to move in ASAP, they began with different visions of their future home’s aesthetic which had to be navigated during the design process. Program requirements
  • Flexibly design for a family with children who will come of age in the home.
  • Create a healthy indoor environment, particularly for air quality and materials safety.
  • Maximize the breathtaking views and integrate the home into the surrounding environs.
  • Support the owner’s decision to use his own construction firm in building their first Passive House structure.
  • Seamlessly integrate indoor/outdoor space and a swimming pool.
  • Create an all-electric home with a wood-burning fireplace.
Distinguishing aspects of the project Glass across the southern side of the home ensures continual views of the landscape and picturesque lake from all vantage points. Two retracting glass walls connect indoor amenities seamlessly to outdoor space while external shades provided an effective strategy to regulate sun exposure and control passive solar gain. A large centralized outdoor fireplace sits beyond the Passive House envelope yet can be appreciated from both interior and exterior public spaces. A pre-fabricated envelope and steel framing helped meet the aggressive schedule and reduced requirements on a contractor taking on Passive House details for the first time. As one of the most experienced U.S. architecture firms in pre-fabricated Passive Houses, the firm advised on pre-fab vendor selection. Top-quality glazed terra cotta tile siding, produced in nearby Ohio, imitates the classic look of cedar shakes but provides 100-year durability with no maintenance. The detached pool building outside the Passive House envelop along with the garage roof hosts solar panels that augment the efficiency of the home’s air-tight envelope.

DETAILS
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