Creek Road Passive House
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Designed to emulate a Shaker farmhouse, this new single-family Passive House Certified home replaced an existing structure on the same site. Hugh Lofting provided full construction management from demolition of the former house through all finishes and occupancy, including a custom timber-framed cypress front porch entry and trellis.
The project marked a repeat collaboration with HOLZRAUM, a system of modular, panelized wood-fiber-based wall and roof assemblies. A full 3D design and fabrication model included every piece of framing and mechanical item, allowing the design and construction team to plan and problem-solve with high accuracy and foresight. The simplicity of the architecture belies the complexity of the system, which is factory-produced for faster site construction and eliminates the waste associated with traditional construction. Ultra-airtight and efficient, the house exceeded air barrier test expectations and earned PHIUS+2018 and PHIUS+Source Zero certifications.
The home includes two bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a study, media room, and music room with features such as dark maple hardwood floors, live-edge walnut windowsills, and traditional white trim. Replicated from the original house, a large three-season/winter room with porch above includes a wood stove and large windows to enjoy the surrounding forest. A portion of the home was built to accommodate a future second floor addition. During construction, the Hugh Lofting team protected and preserved a large dogwood tree off the corner of the porch.
The construction team overcame the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic, which struck shortly after construction began.
Read the home’s Passive House statistics at Passive House Institute US.
Architect: Bright Common Architecture & Design
Contractor: Hugh Lofting Timber Framing & High Performance Building
Energy Consultants: DSB Energy and Tight Bild
Structural Engineer: CKS Structures
Prefabricated Assemblies: HOLZRAUM System, manufactured by Blueprint Robotics
Completed: 2021
Size: 5,000 square feet (including winter room and garage)
Images by Sam Oberter
