The Kitchen Pavilion, SF Bay Area,CA

A small scale project that will serve as a kitchen pavilion/ guest house or pool house. Gerard Lee Architects will be incorporating as many sustainable features as possible. Some passive energy design strategies involve using a stack effect to ventilate and cool the structure during the summer months. This is achieved by popping up the lobby area, effectively creating an atrium with operable clerestorey windows. This serves two purposes, it allows for hot air in the summer months to rise to the top of the atrium and be drawn away by prevailing winds. The clerestorey windows also function as solar collectors in the winter. The low winter sun is invited into the structure to warm up the 12" insulated concrete slab. When night comes the heat built up though the course of the day is slowly released. The walls will be an ISI patented straw bale construction with a layer of concrete on either side. All concrete within the structure will have a certain percentage of flyash in their mixture. A good way of recycling what is technically a waste byproduct. Other strategies which make the building more site specific involve; locating the structure to maximize views and natural light. While "green" may have been out of reach of most consumers, technology and demand have brought most "green" building techniques and materials within reach. The cost savings and the positive effects for the environment make it a clear choice for most home owners.
As part of this project, we are designing a separate restroom facility with straw bale walls. This building will be buried against an earth berm to help moderate its temperature throughout the year. In addition to help it blend with the surrounding environment, we will be utilizing a "green" roof. In other words, a roof capable of supporting the growth of certain types of plants. For a brief sypnoses of "green" or sustainable and environmentally friendly design, please refer to our sustainability FAQ or guides. Project is in design development phase. Portions of it are fast track.
This is a © Gerard Lee Architects project.

Gerard Lee, AIA is the principal in charge on this project.

Having the knowledge and experience to design environmentally friendly buildings is only half the story. It is important to have clients that believe in the rewards obtainable from creating sustainable buildings and that they be supportive of the design process. Creating and designing "green", sustainable residential buildings is a collaborative exercise, and successful projects come about when both client and architect share the same vision and goals.
It is the architect's job to help educate the client on sustainable issues, design methods and innovative solutions that can help enhance their projects.