Refreshing Green (continued)
Photo: Colleen Duffley
"I loved the way the house just opens up in front of you as you walk in," says Robert. "We didn't want to be the ones who screwed it up." The couple also wanted to make the house even greener than it was in its forward-thinking original design by increasing its energy efficiency and adding native plants to the garden. Seminoff 's passive-solar design met them more than halfway.
Robert has been acclaimed for successfully litigating against polluters, and it was important to him and Cara that the renovation embrace sustainable building practices in its attempt to preserve the architectural integrity and spirit of the original house. It was already ideally oriented to capture winter light and shade out summer heat. Walls of windows and sliding glass doors at the back of the house were replaced with insulated low-E windows to help increase energy efficiency. The original terrazzo floor (another legacy of Wright) was kept and refurbished; it acts as a radiant-heat source. The Barneses also retained all of the property's ample trees, which shade the home from summer sun. As a result, the couple often keep their air-conditioning off and the patio's sliding glass doors wide open to capture the evening breeze.
Cara served more or less as her own general contractor, but instead of handing down orders, she says, she tried to act as a facilitator to help designers and craftspeople work collaboratively. Although she isn't a professional interior designer, her mother was, and her father imports architectural antiques. Both parents had an influence on the home's design.
What the Pros Know
Sustainability and energy efficiency were important to Robert and Cara Barnes, but not at the cost of their efforts to preserve and accentuate the home’s midcentury style. Luckily, the two goals were sometimes in sync, as with the furniture made by local craftsmen or the natural light’s reducing the need for electric light. The homeowners replaced all the back windows and doors with low-E coated glass, installed a new HVAC system (replacing damaged ducts for better airflow) and added dimmable light switches and programmable thermostats as well as an efficient Frigidaire washer and dryer. The original radiant terrazzo floors, fluorescent light fixtures and overhanging eaves would all impress any green builder working today. Robert and Cara also frequently give their air system a break by ventilating naturally. "A lot of the time, we just keep the back patio doors open," Robert says. Their next step? Photovoltaic solar roof panels and geothermal heating and cooling.
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