Zen-like Wolfe Den Growls Green, Protects Forest
By Joe Wertz
Maximizing a small structural footprint near downtown Austin, MJ Neal Architects designed a contemporary home that uses simple rectangular shapes to coax out the most function and appealing from a fairly limited space. The 2,400 square-foot Wolfe Den (not to be confused with the Wolf’s Lair!) was designed for a young professional couple and uses the rectangular body of the home to shelter an outdoor courtyard space from the street and protect privacy for interior spaces that open to decks and a backyard garden. The Austin architect used soy and recycled denim to insulate the minimalist home and recycled rubber to floor the second story. Other green building elements include low-VOC paints, formaldehyde-free plywood, sustainably-grown wood flooring, locally cast bricks, and a geothermal HVAC. [via contemporist]
