Arch11 designs a sustainable extension in Denver

US-based studio, Arch11 designed the extension of a home in Denver that was built at the turn of the 20th century. A skilled intervention that added new rooms with a modern style but at the same time is respectful of the existing house, also greatly improving its overall energy performance.


It's never easy to increase the liveable space of an existing building, and it's an even tougher task when the house in question has unique historic qualities, like the “Dutch Colonial” house in Denver, Colorado, built at the turn of the 20th century. 
The design team from Arch11, known in Denver and Boulder for their innovative architectural responses to tough contexts, was very happy to take up this challenge. Although the home does not have historic designation, Arch11 principal KenAndrews looked to the official guidelines to ensure that the design of the new addition was appropriate for a historical structure:“New work shall be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale, and proportion...”.
Starting from this basis, Arch11 added a 65-square-metre steel and glass structure to the existing 185-square metre home with its classic gambrel roof. Their work was intended both to create spacious and light-filled areas with large windows facing east and west and to make the whole house more sustainable. 
Some of the technological solutions adopted by Arch11 include a photovoltaic array and a “green” ground source pump for power, heating and cooling. Skylights fill the interiors with light, and the high performance windows and blown-in insulation boost the home's energy performance to nearly net-zero (NZEB).
The extension in Washington Park, Denver is, therefore, a project with stand-out urban sustainability and great respect for the urban context.

Christiane Bürklein

Project: Arch11 - http://arch11.com/
Location: Denver, USA
Year: 2016
Images: Larry Sykes