“We thought the double roof was an important diagram to reduce heat gain in the house and were compelled by that as an environmental diagram. We also appreciated its resemblances to vernacular housing in the South and were interested in how these types were abstracted and treated with a level of refinement one doesn’t anticipate seeing in certain vernacular types.”

—Heather Roberge, AIAAn investigation into building performance, this project explores a new model for housing in Houston’s hot, humid climate. Rather than adhering to strict envelope standards, it pursues sufficiency through the exchange of spatial energies as a regional approach to climatic architecture. Thermal stratification informed the design of a central core and sloped geometries, with open air exchange creating a unified airflow. Mechanical systems, developed with climate consultants Transsolar, emphasize low-energy fixtures (fans) to reduce reliance on heating and cooling. The project also experiments with nominal lumber, requiring continuous exterior ventilation (double roof) and reinforced structures (quadruple posts, double and triple beams). It relied on carbon-negative materials, partial prefabrication, and designing with the granular properties of materials in mind to advance its design intent.