Credit: Matt Rinquist
Living in a quaint 900-square-foot (84-m2) brick bungalow located in the heart of a historic Phoenix neighborhood, Chris Nieto and his wife faced a predicament common among owners of small, outdated homes: They needed more space for their growing family and an upgrade of existing mechanical systems and insulation to improve energy effi ciency and quality of living. Th eir solution, however, was anything but common. Purchased by the Nietos in 1999, the home is located on Hoover Avenue in Phoenix’s Ashland Historic District, one of several historic neighborhoods in the area undergoing a revival because of its classic architecture and easy access to the downtown area. Reluctant to relocate, the Nietos more than doubled the size of their vintage 1924 bungalow by building a 1,400-square-foot (130-m2) extension that uses completely diff erent materials and an ultra-contemporary architectural approach.
New and old merge beautifully in a union that preserves the home’s historic charm while infusing it with modern style and functionality. Nieto, founding principal and chief executive offi cer of Phoenix-based architecture and urban design fi rm, [merz] project, and his partner, Joe Herzog, who was principal architect on the project, are responsible for the innovative design of the remodeled bungalow, which garnered the Washington, D.C.-based American Institute of Architects, Arizona Chapter, 2008 Home of the Year Award for its successful commingling of the traditional and contemporary. Th e design team transformed the cramped rooms and low ceilings of the existing home into an open, bright, expansive space with improved traffi c fl ow. Instead of mimicking the architectural style and brick exterior of the original structure, the designers used zinc to cover the exterior walls and roof of the 1-story addition and installed large expanses of aluminum-framed, fl oor-toceiling windows that slide open to allow cross ventilation and unimpeded access to the outdoors. A wide, glass-enclosed entry foyer connects the original brick home to its extension, which houses a new kitchen, living room and master suite. Th e home now is 2,300 square feet (214 m2) with three bedrooms, three baths, a library, large laundry room and combined diningand family-room area.
Credit: Matt Rinquist
Because the Nietos’ home is located in a historic district, the remodeling plans had to be approved by the Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission whose mission is to protect the integrity and character of historic neighborhoods. That can present a challenge for urban-infi ll projects that seek to modernize a structure to meet today’s lifestyle demands. The Historic Preservation Commission requires all additions to be compatible with the scale and architecture of the existing property and compatible with adjacent properties. It also prefers additions be located away from public view to preserve the property’s historic streetscape appearance. Even though [merz] project used diff erent materials and architecture for the addition, the designers were able to gain the commission’s approval by thoughtful attention to scale and material selection, as well as locating the addition behind the original house where it’s not clearly visible from the street. The simple rectangular shape of the addition and the gable-style roof help maintain continuity between the old and new.
“The architecture is completely diff erent, but we weren’t trying to dominate the old house,” Herzog says. “The Historic Preservation Commission understood that we were trying to do something very diff erent from the old to celebrate the old. Th e zinc-clad extension possesses a timeless quality that merges with the traditional character of the original red-brick bungalow. In Europe, zinc has a long track record of being used on historicrestoration projects.” Careful selection was given to all exterior and interior materials used on the project; an emphasis was placed on using durable, recyclable products. Th e result is a beautiful interplay of wood, stone, concrete, metal and glass. Indoors, rich walnut millwork creates harmony between the original house and new wing, extending from the old front door to the opposite end of the addition.
The original hardwood fl oors in the bungalow were preserved and refi nished while the fl ooring in the addition is polished concrete that was left a natural gray. Instead of boxing in rooms with drywall, the open fl oor plan uses masses of bluestone to loosely delineate the various rooms. “We were trying to create a cool, less ostentatious color palette,” explains Herzog. “Th e grayish tones of the bluestone and polished-concrete fl oors on the interior provided the subtlety we were looking for and played well against the rich, warm tones of the walnut used throughout the house. On the exterior, the deeper gray color tones of the zinc provide a neutral backdrop to the existing house.”
A BREATHABLE EXTERIOR
Three profi les of zinc were used on the project for functional and aesthetic purposes. Corrugated zinc panels clad the south and west walls, and fl at interlocking zinc panels cover the north wall. Th e gable roof is topped with interlocking standing-seam panels. All the zinc has a preweathered fi nish that captures rather than refl ects light and complements the red brick. “We wanted to use a material that would age naturally and have life-cycle properties similar to the brick,” Herzog notes. “Th e zinc will develop a natural patina over time that keeps with the integrity of a historic home.” Th e design team used fl at and corrugated panel profi les to add dimensional interest and create intriguing visual eff ects. “We varied the profi les to achieve diff erent plays of light, giving each plane of the house diff erent shade patterns and colors throughout the day,” Herzog explains.
Corrugated zinc cladding was used previously by [merz] project for the Galleries at Turney—a community of eight singlefamily residences in downtown Phoenix and the fi rst project in Arizona to achieve certifi cation under the Washington, D.C.- based U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes rating system. For the Nieto home, the architects tried something new with zinc, using the cladding not only for its aesthetic and environmental virtues, but also to create a breathable exterior envelope that would help buff er the home from the intense Arizona heat. “Th is was the fi rst time we had designed something like this, so we took sort of an out-of-the-box approach,” Herzog says. “Th e zinc cladding and roofi ng panels fl oat about 1 inch [25 mm] away from the exterior envelope of the house, creating an air gap that increases the insulation and allows for air circulation. Th e design permits warm air to rise and exit around the building perimeter.” Th e addition was framed entirely of steel studs to ensure everything would be straight and line up perfectly, Herzog explains. Th e framing is covered by 5/8-inch (16-mm) plywood sheathing protected by a vapor-permeable, air-barrier membrane. Over that, builders installed steel hat channel, spacing it 16 inches (406 mm) on-center and screwing it into the wood. Th e zinc panels then were screwed into the hat channel.
SENSITIVE RESPONSE
When evaluating the entries for the AIA Home of the Year design competition, the panel of judges unanimously agreed the Nietos’ home exhibited the best possible architectural solution for the site given the conditions. “It met every challenge with a thoughtful, stylish, environmentally sensitive response,” they noted. Many of the materials and construction methods used for the home embrace sustainable living. A healthy indoor environment was achieved by using the concrete slab as a fi nished fl oor surface and installing custom cabinetry with nonpetroleum-based fi nishes. Th e small amount of drywall in the home is fi nished with low-VOC paint. To improve insulation, high-density foam was sprayed into the new walls and ceiling, as well as in the existing attic space. All the glazing throughout the addition uses low-E insulated glass, and the orientation of the windows takes advantage of natural daylight and cross ventilation, allowing for passive cooling during much of the year. The home also is equipped with low-flow plumbing fixtures and a high-efficiency water heater. Not only did [merz] project succeed in maintaining a historic treasure, the design team also guaranteed its future viability through inventive interpretation of preservation and innovative design. “The remodeled house is responsive to its context on micro and macro levels,” Herzog says. “It is responsive to the integrity of the existing house, needs of the family and broader needs of urban living. It reflects a commitment to history, a neighborhood, modern design and environmentally efficient living.”
Anne Balogh writes about architecture and metal construction from Glen Ellyn, Ill.
Nieto Home, Phoenix
Architect [merz] project, Phoenix, www.merzproject.com
General contractor [merz] build, the construction division of [merz] project, Phoenix, www.merzproject.com
Metal product installer Skytop Roofi ng, Phoenix, www.skytop.com
Structural engineer BDA Engineers, Scottsdale, Ariz., (480) 423-8555
Zinc cladding and roofing panels Pre-Weathered Pro in graphite gray from RHEINZINK America Inc., Cambridge, Mass., www.rheinzink.com
Windows Southwest Aluminum Systems, Chandler, Ariz., (800) 544-4044
Vapor-permeable membrane WrapShield from VaproShield, Gig Harbor, Wash., www.vaproshield.com