modern home

The Home Office: Reversing the Angle

The evolution of the workplace, particularly with the rise of remote work, has brought about a renewed focus on the aesthetics of our work environments, extending beyond the physical office to include the digital realm. Having a beautiful office is no longer just about creating a pleasing physical space for productivity and creativity; it's equally important to consider the visual backdrop that represents us in virtual meetings. This dual focus ensures that our professionalism and attention to detail are evident, not just in our work, but also in the environments we choose to display during video calls.

Creating a net zero sustainable home was the first priority for our client in Somerville, MA - a gorgeous office and zoom backdrop was just the cherry on top. The ascending staircase of bookshelves, paired with the cascade of ornate pendant lights and lush greenery conveys a strong sense of the owner’s identity. Moreover, the window-laden office itself contributes to a positive work-from-home experience overall, boosting mood, creativity and productivity. In a time when the boundaries between home and work are increasingly blurred, a dedicated and aesthetically pleasing workspace can help create a sense of routine and normalcy. It can also serve as a form of personal expression, allowing individuals to showcase their style and preferences in a way that enhances their work identity.

Top 10 Coastal Architect of 2020

Ocean Modern Home named ZeroEnergy Design as a Top 10 Coastal Architect of 2020. In the words of Ocean Modern, they selected "ten award-winning firms recognized for their commitment to excellence, innovative design, and sustainable building practices. Each firm represents best-in-class architects with forward-thinking designs for building the spaces of the future."

ZeroEnergy Design is grateful to be among those selected!

MORE: Ocean Modern Article

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LEXINGTON MODERN RESIDENCE FEATURED IN INHABITAT

Green focused website, Inhabitat, recently published a story on ZeroEnergy Design’s Lexington Modern Residence, describing it as “a stunning example of how creating a sustainable home doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury.”

The 4,400 sq. ft. contemporary home designed by ZED reflects the firm’s signature modern aesthetics and uses only 19% of the energy of a code-built home. It boasts of several sustainable features, including a high-performance building envelope, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and a 10kW rooftop solar electric system for generating clean energy.

The Lexington Modern Residence was also featured in Houzz Tours in the last month.

MORE: LEXINGTON MODERN HOME IN INHABITAT

ZED's Lexington Modern Residence in Houzz Tours

We are thrilled to have the Lexington Modern Residence designed by ZED featured in Houzz Tours this month. Similar to other ZED homes, the Lexington Modern is highly energy efficient and uses only 19% of the energy compared to a code-built house of the same size. The home’s rectilinear forms, large windows, and thoughtful connection to the surrounding landscape draw inspiration from mid-century modern architecture while the shiplapped wood cladding is a nod to the traditional design style of the area.

In the interview with Houzz, ZED’s Stephanie Horowitz describes the design decisions that went into creating this beautiful home, including the careful siting that creates privacy while also ensures strong connections with the outdoors, the stepped-down living room with high ceilings, and the Passive House-certified skylight that offers significant natural light in the basement. Read the detailed interview in the full article linked below.

MORE: LEXINGTON MODERN - HOUZZ TOUR

Dartmouth Oceanfront House Featured in Ocean Home Magazine

The June-July edition of Ocean Home magazine includes a detailed feature on ZeroEnergy Design’s gorgeous, green, and energy-efficient Dartmouth oceanfront home. The article includes the homeowners perspective as well as that of ZED’s Stephanie Horowitz and other professionals involved in the design and construction of the two-story, modern home in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

The empty nest couple wanted a contemporary home that took advantage of the location, accommodated entertaining, allowed them to age in place, and had a low carbon footprint. “ZeroEnergy Design was the obvious choice for us….. they get it in so many ways”, said the homeowners.

During her interview with Ocean Home, architect Stephanie Horowitz clarified “Pairing design and performance is what we do. Great design is green design.”

Read the complete article online:

MORE: OCEAN HOME ARTICLE (Flipbook version)
MORE: OCEAN HOME ARTICLE (Flash version)


New Case: Modern Oceanfront 'Forever Home'

ZeroEnergy Design is pleased to release a case study in exceptional green modern architecture and mechanical design: the Dartmouth Oceanfront Residence in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

Nestling within a coastal New England setting, this modern home takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and stunning ocean views - providing the homeowners with the perfect home to entertain in style, showcase their love for art, and enjoy comfortable low-carbon living.

A super-tight building envelope, carefully-designed HVAC systems, and concealed exterior shades lower energy consumption and ensure year round thermal comfort, while a photovoltaic system on the roof generates almost enough energy to offset the home’s energy consumption. Covered outdoor spaces, charging ports for electric cars, and accessibility features add to this ‘forever home’ that will allow the owners to comfortably age in place.

The project won a PRISM Gold Award for Best Single Family Home at the 2018 Annual PRISM Awards Gala.

MORE: DARTMOUTH CASE STUDY

ZED’s Ocean Retreat in South Dartmouth Wins PRISM Award

ZeroEnergy Design’s modern oceanfront home in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, was recognized with a PRISM Gold Award for Best Single Family Home: 3000-6000sf at the 2018 Annual Prism Awards Gala. The PRISM Awards, organized by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston (BRAGB), recognize the finest projects and outstanding achievements of architects, builders and other professionals in the home building industry.

The winning project was commissioned by a couple drawn to the coastal New England site for its breathtaking ocean views and proximity to Boston. While ZED’s design embraces the land’s natural topography, maximizes the ocean views from the living spaces, and offers seamless indoor-outdoor living spaces to entertain in style, it also ensures the owners have a comfortable ‘forever home’ with accessibility features that will allow them to age in place.

Minimized HVAC systems and artfully concealed exterior shades provide optimal thermal comfort year round in New England weather even as the carefully designed mechanical systems and the super-insulated enclosure maintain energy efficiency. The charging ports in the garage for electric cars and the photovoltaic system that generates enough energy to offset the home’s annual consumption actualize the owners’ desire to lead a low-carbon lifestyle.

The Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston is one of the leading trade associations in New England since its inception in 1944. It is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts (HBRAMA), and promotes professionalism and high ethical standards for the industry, influences public policy and encourages civic and environmental responsibility within the building industry. The PRISM Awards gala is the BRAGB’s flagship event of the year.

MORE: AWARDS

New England Home magazine article on ZED's Lexington Modern Residence!

Just now available on newsstands - the latest New England Home with ZED's Lexington Modern Residence (March/April 2016 Issue). The article includes an interview with green architect Stephanie Horowitz, and a large photo spread on the superinsulated modern green home. Be sure to pick up your copy of the magazine! In the meantime you can read more on the ZeroEnergy.com website.

VIEW PROJECT PROFILE:  LEXINGTON MODERN RESIDENCE