Architects respectful of nature, neighborhood in home design
Energy-efficient building materials connect personal, professional values
Release date: Feb 8, 2007
Printed from: http://pressroom.pella.com//news_releases/new/176/
World-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright left a legacy in American architecture by designing homes that suited the land on which they were built. And, today, that is just what two Greenville, South Carolina architects are doing as they design and build their own new home.
“The lot is property only architects would love,” said Mark Godfrey, AIA, LEED® AP. The building site is about one-third of an acre, averages 50 feet wide, and is 250 feet deep. Mark and his wife Lura Godfrey, AIA, owner of LDG Design, designed their home.
“It posed an interesting design problem for us,” added Mark. Because of the nature of the site, they are building a long, narrow house. And, because of their personal interest and appreciation of sustainable design, they incorporated energy-efficient design as well as many green building materials.
The Godfreys knew they wanted to live in the city; however, finding a home or place to build proved to be difficult and expensive. They ended up buying the lot from a builder who had trouble fitting an office building there. Mark and Lura are interested in incorporating green building techniques into their home, and they plan to pursue EarthCraft House certification. EarthCraft House is a green building program in the Southeast that promotes residential green building.
The Godfrey’s building site is located in the Viola Street neighborhood of Greenville. In 1991, the neighborhood began a revitalization that included building nearly 100 new homes—a mix of some affordable housing along with some homes sold at market value. The Viola Street project has earned recognition on the local, state and national levels and received the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Platinum Award of “Best in American Living.”
“It is a precious neighborhood. We are excited to be next door to it,” said Lura. “The city core has developed beautifully and we want to be a part of promoting new development in this area.”
Mark and Lura lived in Atlanta for eight years. They longed to return to their native South Carolina, since Mark is from Columbia and Lura hails from Spartanburg. Both are graduates of Clemson University School of Architecture.
“We love the Greenville area. We like the things happening in Greenville and thought it was a good time for us to make a change. We looked at jobs in the area and weren’t sure if we would buy or build, but the timing seemed right for us to build,” said Mark.
Lura describes the exterior of their home as contemporary craftsman. “We want the home to stay in keeping with the character of the neighborhood, which has a lot of bungalows, and that is a style we appreciate. The inside of the home will be more contemporary,” said Lura.
“The street façade of the house is small, not overwhelming,” added Lura. She designed the home to capture views and to get as much daylight as possible. The home’s living spaces are located in the front and the bedrooms are in the back.
Designing green, environmentally-friendly homes comes naturally to Lura. Her interest in environmentalism started in her youth. She helped start an environmental club in high school and her family recycled before their community had a recycling program.
“I can’t see designing any other way. I want to be a part of making green design cost effective and available to the general public,” said Lura. “This is what we believe, so we’re living it. The house is well designed and well intentioned.”
Over the past few years, Mark has also developed an interest in green design. The architectural firm Mark worked with in Atlanta had an environmental design focus, and he continues to be a proponent of green design with Pazdan-Smith Group Architects in Greenville.
Just as with most homeowners, the budget is a driving force of the project. The Godfreys are choosing to leave portions of their first level unfinished in order to invest in exterior materials that have the most long-term impact, such as energy-efficient insulation, cement board siding, and Pella® Impervia® windows.
“We were pretty familiar with the Pella brand, but we weren’t familiar with Pella Impervia. We knew about the developments in fiberglass as a low-maintenance alternative material to wood and vinyl. We were also interested in the energy efficiency and thermal conductivity of the Pella Impervia windows. And, they were less than half the cost of a competitive brand’s estimate,” said Mark.
The sleek profile of Pella Impervia® windows and patio doors adds beauty with the added benefit of low-maintenance to any project, and simplifies installation in new construction and replacement or remodeling projects. Made from Duracast®, durable Pella Impervia windows and patio doors, resist corrosion and moisture, as well as scratching, denting and impact for lasting value.
Pella Impervia windows and patio doors with Low-E insulating glass have also earned the ENERGY STAR® and can help save homeowners money in heating and cooling costs, while providing year-round comfort.
“There are a lot of good options in window styles from Pella,” said Lura. The Godfreys chose Pella Impervia single-hung windows in white to compliment the classic design of the home.
“This is the way houses should be built every day. It just takes a little bit of extra time and effort,” said Lura.
“It [green design] is becoming more mainstream,” said Mark. “Some day green design will just be design.”
The Godfreys currently live in an apartment in Greenville and plan to break ground soon on their new home. They hope to have their new home completed by early spring 2007.
About Pella
Celebrating 81 years in business, Pella Corporation is recognized in the window and door industry for its technology and innovation, having earned more than 100 product and design patents. In addition to windows and patio doors, the company also manufactures entry door systems with the same level of quality and technology for which Pella is known worldwide. The company is represented by a Direct Sales Network operating Pella® Window & Door Showrooms nationwide. For more information, call 888-847-3552 or visit www.pella.com.
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