SEAM (2006-2008)
ecoMOD3 – the SEAM house for Piedmont Housing Alliance combines the historic preservation of an 1860 home with the addition of contemporary modular rooms that expand the home and provide a small accessory dwelling unit (rental) in the back yard. The student built modules sit behind an historic house believed to be a former slave quarters. The student and faculty team researched and directed the historic preservation effort, although a professional contractor (Bruce Guss of Housewright Inc.) completed the construction effort necessarily to stabilize and significantly upgrade the historic structure. Emphasis was placed on telling the story of the building by keeping aspects of all phases of occupation.
The design is optimized for natural light and ventilation. It includes evacuated tube solar hot water heating; a modular green roof system; stormwater rain garden; and a pervious concrete parking area. The accessory rental unit received a LEED for Homes Platinum certification and at 398 square feet, the rear unit is the world’s smallest LEED certified project of any building type. The project is considered ‘carbon neutral’ due to the reuse of material, effective design strategies, and the donation of carbon offsets.