young / johnson residence

The house is surrounded by a 600 square foot, concrete block, slab-on-grade house sitting on a 2 acre organic farm to the north, a small, 1930 clapboard 4-square neighbor to the south, two 1975 HUD duplexes in line with an array of modest bungalows across the street, and to the east, just off the rear courtyard, a vehicular easement with a 25-foot-tall metal shed. Negotiating these obstructions while utilizing ecologically sustainable strategies is the primary focus of this project. At 1200 square feet, the primary living and sleeping spaces have direct access to a central courtyard and help maximize the limited square footage. Passive and active solar, radiant floors, solar heated water, gray water retention and composite, non-toxic materials characterize this modest dwelling.