Using Daylighting in Your Design/Build Project

October 5, 2020

One of the easiest ways to make your new or renovated home more energy efficient is to take advantage of daylight through the use of windows, skylights, and reflective surfaces. Not only will daylighting lower your energy bills, but it’s also a great way to make your home green.

Benefits of Implementing Daylighting Strategies

Daylighting is a simple and powerful way of reducing energy expenditures, and it’s used often in large commercial spaces. The same principles can be applied to residential design. According to Professor of Sustainable Construction Technologies and former Dean of the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering of EPFL:

“Depending on the building and how it's used, a good daylighting strategy can reduce the need for energy-consuming electric lighting by 20 to 80 %.”

Not only does daylight help to lower electricity costs associated with artificial lighting, solar heat gain (from windows) can be used to warm interior spaces, thereby lowering heating bills.

In addition to saving you money, using daylight effectively is an easy way to help the environment. Reductions in electricity and gas help to decrease your carbon footprint. Sunlight is the perfect renewable resource!

Leveraging natural daylight has been proven to have other positive effects in buildings. Increased daylight provides a more productive workspace (kitchen, home office, study) and can have a positive psychological impact on occupants including:

increasing levels of serotonin in the body which can elevate mood, increase focus, reduce depression and relieve anxiety
increasing brain stimulation and regulating body orientation and balance
helping people feel more in touch with their surroundings
helping to create an atmosphere of contemplation and composure

Methods of Incorporating Daylight into Your New or Renovated Home

You can bring more daylight into your home through the strategic use of windows, doors, openings and skylights. If you are building a new home, it’s the perfect time to consider how to orient the rooms of your home to maximize the use of daylight. For example, strategic placement of windows on the north elevation of your home provides a more consistent, indirect light. On the other hand, sunlight coming from the south is more direct and, when managed properly, can provide a pleasurable environment for some living spaces (living room, sunroom).

Windows with tall head heights can bring a lot of natural light deeper into your home as can clerestories (high windows above eye level). Other methods to use daylight include lighter wall colors and mirrors. At times, you may need to reduce the glare from sunlight as it will provide too much light. You can do this through the use of light shelves, external shading systems, interior shades and strategically designed roof overhangs.

If you are looking to rehabilitate an existing home or rebuild, INTEGRATA Architecture + Construction has a wealth of experience and we are happy to discuss your project with you. Please send us an email for more information or phone the office at (508) 495-6575.

How to Design a Home for Aging in Place

October 1, 2020

More and more people are deciding to age in place, either in their primary residence or in a renovated second home. Choosing to remain at home has so many benefits and with the right design, it’s an attractive option for many older residents. In fact, “aging in place is strongly linked to greater health and happiness outcomes for seniors.” In this article, we will discuss some of the most important design elements to consider including flooring, hardware, wainscoting/chair rails, lighting, and bathroom fixtures.

Managing Different Levels

If your home has more than one floor, one of the first things you will have to address is the challenge of stairs. Options for mitigating stairs include elevators and chair lifts. It’s also a good idea to consider moving the master suite to the first floor, if it’s not already located there. You may need to consider accessibility with a wheelchair, in which case you need to look at the width of door frames and whether or not ramps will be needed to manage smaller changes in elevation.

Flooring Choices

Flooring can pose challenges to older adults, so it’s important to choose the right surfaces for your home. Consider minimizing transitions between different types of flooring, as these can be tripping hazards. It’s helpful to choose surfaces like non-slip vinyl, cork and low pile carpeting, which are much more forgiving for falls.

Lighting

Lighting is an important consideration when renovating a home to age in place. Aging eyes result in increased sensitivity to glare and reduced contrast sensitivity (it’s more difficult to tell the difference between light/dark surfaces). These factors can make it harder to navigate areas of your home safely, so make sure spaces are well-lit and use task lighting to make it easier to complete tasks like reading, grooming, and other hobbies. Direct and indirect lighting can be used in tandem to provide sufficient lighting while simultaneously reducing glare.

Make sure that the home gets plenty of daylight, as older occupants may not get outside as much as they would like, and natural light is proven to increase levels of serotonin in the body which can elevate mood, increase focus, reduce depression and relieve anxiety. However, steps should also be taken to reduce glare caused by sunlight. Tinted glazing for windows or using shades (exterior and interior) can help temper natural light as needed.

Kitchen and Bathroom Fixtures

The kitchen and bathroom are two important spaces that require extra attention when it comes to aging in place. Curbless showers with handheld sprayers, benches and grab bars will make bathing much easier and safer in later years. Wheelchair accessible doorways and space for adequate turning are also advised. The master bathroom should be located on the first floor.

Make sure hardware on doors, cabinets and appliances are not traditional handles or knobs, but rather d-handles, levers or loop handles that are easier to grip. Cabinets should be easily accessible and even upper cabinets should be about 3 inches lower than the traditional height. Consider using pullout shelves in cabinets or open-shelving as these are much easier to access.

These are just some of the many options for homeowners looking to renovate a primary or secondary residence to age in place. If you are looking to age in place, INTEGRATA Architecture + Construction has over 20 years of experience designing homes for this purpose and we are happy to discuss your project with you. Please send us an email for more information or phone the office at (508) 495-6575.

5 Tips for Designing a Home in a Flood Plain

January 22, 2020

There’s no secret that climate change is resulting in more severe weather, and consequently, more flooding—something we have become all too familiar with on Cape Cod and the South Shore. In order to adapt to these changing conditions, architects are designing homes with features to help prevent and minimize flood damage. Whether you are remodeling an existing dwelling or rebuilding, adaptations for building in the flood plain may include the following strategies:

Structural Elevation or Filling to Mitigate Flood Risk

The best way to avoid catastrophic flooding is to elevate the home through the use of piers or pilings. If this is not an option, with proper permitting, you may create an area of higher ground above the BFE (Base Flood Elevation) by bringing in additional soil. Lastly, you may be able to create a berm around the home’s foundation to form a slope downward at about 1 inch per foot away from the house. This can force water to drain away from the structure.

Utilization of Retaining Walls and Landscape Design

Retaining walls can be an effective way of moderating flooding by holding soil in place and preventing erosion, in addition to serving as a landscape design feature. Depending on your project’s budget and the severity of flooding in your area, this may be an option for consideration.

Use of Flood-Resistant Building Materials

Using flood-resistant materials cannot prevent flood damage as a whole, but it can minimize the hardship of repairing and rebuilding after damage occurs by reducing the work to mere cleanups and cosmetic repairs. When it comes to materials, flooring options can include concrete, concrete tile, ceramic, clay, terrazzo, vinyl or rubber tiles.

For wall and roof materials, alternatives can include brick, concrete, concrete block, fiber cement siding panels, glass block, stone, ceramic and clay tile, and closed-cell foam insulation, among others. Fiberglass doors and PVC trim and finishes that are non-porous can also help minimize damage due to flooding.

In addition to flooding on the Cape & Islands and South Shore, we must also deal with the threat of hurricane-force winds. Massachusetts adopted the International Building Code several years ago. This legislation governs the design and construction of all buildings in the Commonwealth. As a result, homes must be able to withstand three-second gusts of winds up to 110 mph!

Elevate and Flood-proof Utilities

Another option for avoiding flood damage to the interior of your home is to elevate and flood-proof your utilities. There are several ways to do this including installing pedestals or platforms for outdoor utility equipment, relocating equipment to higher floors or constructing an elevated utility room. This can help reduce or eliminate utility damage, therefore reducing the costs associated with repair.

In conclusion, homeowners on the Cape & Islands and the South Shore will continue to face flooding and other damage due to natural disasters, and it’s imperative that design and construction follow legislation enacted by the state to help minimize damage. If you are looking to rehabilitate an existing home or rebuild, INTEGRATA Architecture + Construction has a wealth of experience and we are happy to discuss your project with you. Please send us an email for more information or phone the office at (508) 495-6575.

Adopting the Architecture 2030 Challenge

February 26, 2019

The built environment is the major source of global demand for energy and materials that produce by-product greenhouse gases (GHG). Planning decisions not only affect building energy consumptions and GHG emissions, but transportation energy consumption and water use as well, both of which have large environmental implications.

Building an Awareness

February 26, 2019

When Andrew Borgese began Integrata Architecture & Planning in 2002, he rooted his business philosophy in the spirit of collaboration. The best projects, Borgese believes, come to fruition through seamless teamwork among architects, builders, interior designers, and craftsmen. His best and truest collaborator, however, may be Mother Nature.

Cottage Living, Cape Style

February 26, 2019

After 30 years of summering on the Cape, the homeowners of this intimate cottage decided it was time to make Falmouth their permanent home. They owned the land—now it was time to build a home in which they could “age in place.” Not only would the home have to be beautiful, it had to accommodate them physically as the years went on, and provide ample private space for visiting family. Having experience with assisted living facility designs, Falmouth-based architect Andrew Borgese, founder and principal of Integrata Architecture and Planning, had plenty of ideas to turn their dream into realty.

Rehab or Re-Build: That is the Question

February 26, 2019

As far back as 100 years ago urbanites from Boston, New York and other cities throughout the northeast had the dream of creating summer communities cradled in the natural beauty of this spectacular Cape Cod landscape. That dream has been realized all across Cape Cod and is as alluring today as it was back then. The challenge we face now is that many of those charming cottages no longer meet the needs of their current owners who intend to spend more time here each year, or who want to be able to accommodate a growing extended family. This challenge is further complicated due to the fact that the process of designing, permitting and building homes here on Cape Cod bears almost no resemblance to that which existed when these cottage communities were originally constructed. In fact, the requirements today are quite different than they were even one year ago.

Why Preserve History?

February 26, 2019

The world around us is advancing at mind-boggling speeds. No sooner have we developed cutting edge technology or equipment, they are rendered obsolete by the next generation of improvements. Even my kids will tell you that if you have an iPhone4, you’re old news because the iPhone5 has been out for seven months already, with the iPhone6 rumored to be out in June of next year. The same rapid pace of change can be seen in engineering, science, medicine, architecture, construction and many other disciplines that impact our daily lives. The message that is being delivered is that we either change with the times, or be left behind. So then, why should we concern ourselves with the past and the concept of historic preservation?

Affordable Housing & Open Space

February 26, 2019

We have, throughout history, faced challenges of meeting new or increased demands of ourselves, our communities, our country, even our planet. Often these challenges are accompanied by a sense of urgency, or crisis, or hope for improved prosperity. The successful solutions seem to be those that preserve the delicate balance of the natural order of things.

Energy Efficient Practices in Building Design, Construction and Operation

February 26, 2019

The topic of energy efficiency has been studied, discussed and written about in newspapers and magazines for decades and much of the technology that exists today was developed years ago as well. But, aside from the energy crisis of the 1970’s, we have never really been pressed to consider energy efficiency as necessary criteria for improving our physical and financial well being as much as we are today.

Green Roofs Offer A Healthier Option

February 26, 2019

The environmental and health problems commonly associated with air pollution, noise pollution, storm water runoff, and groundwater pollution are often experienced with greater frequency and greater intensity in urban and more densely populated areas. The vast areas of paved streets, concrete sidewalks and acres of (usually black) rooftops in most cities act as a giant heat sink and create what is referred to as a “heat island effect” which can account for temperatures in urban areas being as much as 10ºF higher than in surrounding suburban and undeveloped areas. The resulting microclimates lead to increased cooling loads in the summer, requiring larger HVAC equipment and electrical demand which creates more greenhouse gas, pollution and energy consumption. In any community that is trying to address the dangers posed by one or more of these issues, the solution, in part, may be as close as the roof over our heads. That is, if it’s a green roof.

Can We Afford Not To?

February 26, 2019

All too often I hear people claim that building green costs too much. They would like to build green, but it’s just not within their budget. While there are many green building products and technologies that, indeed, are more costly than other conventional or traditional options, a few environmentally conscious architects and builders will be able to show you that green design and building need not cost more than conventional practices and some green features may actually cost less.

Materials Re-use & Materials Conservation

February 26, 2019

o quote from William McDonough’s book Remaking the Way We Make Things – Cradle to Cradle, “the best way to reduce any environmental impact is not to recycle more, but to produce and dispose of less”. The design and construction industry provides, perhaps the greatest opportunity to affect the environment by following this sound advice. Architects, engineers, builders, developers, facility managers and property owners have a choice when it comes to how a building project is to be designed, constructed, and operated and whether each of these processes will utilize materials and resources wisely, or not.

Water Conservation & Efficiency

February 26, 2019

Water. It is the essence of all life. It comprises two thirds of our bodies. Without it, we can survive for only a few days. Yet, when we think about green design and green buildings, we commonly envision images of solar panels, wind turbines and other energy related technologies. While there is no disputing the fact that excessive energy consumption is at the core of global environmental issues, a large and growing number of experts contend that the greatest environmental challenge of the 21st century will not be energy use and production. It will be focused on the far more critical problem of inadequate water supplies.

What It Means To Be Green

February 26, 2019

We have been hearing more and more about the need or the desire to “be green”. Individuals as well as public, private and municipal organizations are seeking out ways to make their homes, their businesses, and their facilities “greener”. What does that really mean? At a minimum, being green involves designing, constructing and operating buildings in ways that meet specified standards to reduce the negative impact of those buildings on occupants and on the environment.

Improving Indoor Environmental Quality

August 4, 2018

In the past, the quality of the air within our homes and workplaces has never really been questioned as a major factor that could adversely affect our well-being. In fact, most new buildings were presumed to be essentially free from the dirt and contaminants that we typically think of as polluting our air. But, sometimes it’s the things that we do not know, cannot see, or cannot smell, that can harm us.

Greenhouse Gases, Architecture & Climate Change

July 26, 2017

Greenhouse gasses (GHGs) are chemical compounds that are found in the Earth’s atmosphere. They allow sunlight to freely enter the atmosphere and contact the Earth’s surface. Some of this sunlight is reflected back toward space in the form of infrared radiation, or heat. The ability of GHGs to absorb some of this infrared radiation and trap heat in the atmosphere has enabled the temperature of the Earth’s surface to remain relatively constant. While many of these gases are naturally occurring, others, such as those used for aerosols, are man-made. Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are regulated by natural processes such as photosynthesis. However, historical data has shown that there has been a 25% increase in the levels of several of these GHGs from pre-industrial levels roughly 150 years ago. The current (and growing) imbalance between the levels of emission and absorption of carbon dioxide is resulting in continued growth of GHGs in the atmosphere. A 2001 study from the National Research Council stated that as a result of an accumulation of GHG in the atmosphere, surface air temperatures and sub-surface ocean temperatures are, in fact, rising.

Sustainable Sites

December 26, 2008

While there is much that could be written about how to design and construct green buildings, this article will take a step back in the timeline of a typical project and look at how the value of green architecture can be dramatically enhanced, and actually begins, with an understanding of how to identify, create and maintain sustainable sites upon which we choose to build.