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SKETCH_PAD © Press Release |
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CATALYST Designed AAC Home Completed in Hassayampa Village  PRESCOTT,
AZ-
The
challenge
of
blending
tastefully with a community characterized by grandiosity was
successfully met with this Craftsman design. With its varied roof lines
and multiple volumes partially concealed by carefully preserved trees,
this multistory structure seems to hug the earth. And there is more to
this house than meets the eye. The stairway, for example, is actually a
thoroughly integrated passive ventilation tower that draws cool air
from the lowest areas of the house out through windows near the
roofline.  Located
within
a Ponderosa Pine forest, fire was a major concern. Built
of AAC (Autoclaved Aerated Concrete)
block, with
the addition of cement fiber board siding and concrete
roof shingles, this home is highly fire-resistant. AAC
block functions as both structure and insulation,
offering a termite proof wall system that also helps to modulate the
indoor temperature by regulating diurnal thermal fluctuations. This
thermal tempering, when coupled
with the remotely accessible heating
and cooling system that allows the owners to control the temperature
from their home computer in Las Vegas, offers a huge energy savings
over a second home set to a year-round 70 degrees. A 6000 sq. ft. second home presents an inherent dilemma for both owner and architect: can such a building be considered energy efficient or 'green' when it (with all of its embedded energy) will sit unoccupied much of the time? CATALYST was glad to be brought in to facilitate the energy efficient design of the house, which boasts a number of high performance features and blends beautifully with its community and natural environment.  For More Information: Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Passive Cooling Towers CATALYST ARCHITECTURE is an award winning, full-service sustainable design firm with offices in Prescott, and Flagstaff Arizona. The firm specializes in master planning, public/tribal, commercial, and custom residential work, with an emphasis on high-performance, resource-efficient design and construction practices. With both principals Jeffrey L. Zucker and Matthew B. Ackerman LEED accredited, Catalyst is committed to the thoughtful integration of our natural and built environments. |
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