[ MJ Neal Architects ] The Wolfe Den

2,400 sq ft
Austin, TX

Single family dwelling for a young professional couple. The site is a small 47′ by 125′ rectilinear in-fill lot situated within a twenty minute walk of downtown.

The house consists of two parts, a simple rectangle along one side of the lot and an adjacent courtyard. This configuration provides privacy from the street while allowing the interior living areas to open onto decks and garden. An overhang with lattice provides the transition to the garden and protection from the west sun.

The house, although conventionally framed, used green methodology and materials:  Slab on grade with diamond ground finish. Bio-base (soy) blow-in insulation for the exterior wall and roof. Recycled denim insulation on the interior walls. Recycled rubber flooring on the upper level. Formaldehyde-free plywood. Low-voc paint. Ipe hard-wood from sustainably managed forests. Locally manufactured brick. Fluorescent and low voltage lighting. Geothermal HVAC system. The house is also photo-voltaic ready for when budget allows.

from  contemporist