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Raul J. Garcia Photography

The exterior of the Sustainable Stuart duplex is both contempora… Read More The exterior of the Sustainable Stuart duplex is both contemporary and respective of its older neighborhood context. The third story steps back from the front of the house, giving the impression of a two-story house to tie in with the massing of adjacent houses.

Raul J. Garcia Photography

Each unit features a rooftop deck.

Raul J. Garcia Photography

Bright, open rooms reduce lighting needs and strategically place… Read More Bright, open rooms reduce lighting needs and strategically placed windows allow for cross ventilation while maintaining privacy on the tight urban lot.

Raul J. Garcia Photography

Moen low-flow fixtures and Kohler dual-flush toilets will help r… Read More Moen low-flow fixtures and Kohler dual-flush toilets will help residents achieve significant water savings.

With a Walk Score of 76, this urban infill duplex is accessible to the shops, restaurants, parks, and public transit of Denver’s centrally located Highland neighborhood. For the spec project, architect Matthew Lawton maximized square footage for each unit with a simple and open interior layout that includes flexible-use rooms, strategically placed windows, and built-ins. A third-floor window wall brings in light, which penetrates down the open-riser, open-guardrail stairwell into the center of each residence.

A super-insulated envelope greatly reduces the structure’s energy load, while the 2.88-kW PV arrays on each garage provide 50% of residents’ electrical needs. Continuous hot water is supplied by a 96% efficient A.O. Smith Vertex direct-vent water heater with recirculation pump. Artistic, resource-efficient elements abound, including wall surfaces made from wine corks and cast-resin backsplash panels of recycled materials and bamboo.

Outside, the third story is set back to tie in with the massing of adjacent houses. The judges were impressed how well the contemporary design fits in with the older neighborhood, describing it as “well-done modernism.”

PRODUCTS

Windows & Exterior Doors: Andersen / Roofing: GAF / Siding: James Hardie / Decking: MoistureShield / Landscape Irrigation: Rain Bird / Appliances: Bosch / Kitchen Faucets: Grohe / Cabinetry: KitchenCraft / Countertops: Caesarstone / Toilets: Kohler / Bath Faucets & Showerheads: Moen / Interior Lighting: Cooper Lighting / Paints & Stains: Sherwin-Williams, Sikkens / Flooring & Carpeting: Ann Sacks, Shaw / HVAC: Carrier, Panasonic / Water Heating: A.O. Smith / Wall Tile: Showercork

Click here to see all the 2011 EHDA winners