Matchbox House, Ann Arbor, Mich.

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Steve Maylone

Steve Maylone

The Matchbox House's exterior is divided into distinctive quadra… Read More The Matchbox House's exterior is divided into distinctive quadrants of cedar planks and fiber-cement siding. It is insulated with a combination of closed-cell spray foam, cellulose, and foam board.

Steve Maylone

Wood trim was sourced from a demolished Michigan barn.

Steve Maylone

The kitchen features recycled-content Corian countertops and IKE… Read More The kitchen features recycled-content Corian countertops and IKEA Energy Star-labeled appliances.

Steve Maylone

Much of the wood used on the interior was sustainably grown and … Read More Much of the wood used on the interior was sustainably grown and harvested to achieve Forest Stewardship Council ceritification, including cabinetry, stairs, closets, flooring, and doors.

Steve Maylone

Hot water is supplied by a Rinnai on-demand hot water heater wit… Read More Hot water is supplied by a Rinnai on-demand hot water heater with compact distribution and a central manifold.

Steve Maylone

Steve Maylone

The house, seen here from the back, sits on a concrete plinth to… Read More The house, seen here from the back, sits on a concrete plinth to reinforce the idea of a small house placed in the woods.

Lower floor plan

Upper floor plan

The “simply elegant” Matchbox House is a study in contrasts, said our judges: It encompasses cutting-edge green building approaches without breaking the bank, features a unique contemporary design surprising for its rural Midwestern setting, and boasts a dramatic exterior but understated interior finishes. “It’s nice how restrained it is,” they said. To reinforce the iconic look of a small house in the woods, architect Naseem Alizadeh raised the structure on a concrete plinth and divided the front and back elevations into fourths. These quadrants—made of James Hardie fiber-cement siding and vertical and horizontal cedar planks—appear to slip past each other, as in the opening and closing of a matchbox.

In another apparent contradiction, the structure feels large inside despite its compact footprint, thanks to its open floor plan and soaring second-floor ceiling with operable skylights. To achieve this look, builder Brian Halprin incorporated an attic-less “hot roof” framed with I-joists instead of trusses and insulated with cellulose and foam board, eliminating the need for ventilation and providing an R-value of 49.

The house boasts several custom amenities including a glass railing system, induction cooktop, and FSC-certified wood doors, floors, and cabinets. To counterbalance these pricey details, the project team worked from concept to completion to identify cost-saving strategies, says Halprin. These included the use of interior trim salvaged from an old barn, mid-grade appliances, Corian solid surface countertops, and small bedrooms.

Besides high-performance framing and insulation, other energy-conserving measures that helped the house achieve LEED Platinum include low-VOC and recycled materials, passive heating and cooling, a high-efficiency furnace, and solar energy. “It’s got a lot of green for a decent price,” summed up one judge.

ON SITE:

Builder Brian Halprin considered applying foam insulation directly to the underside of the home’s pitched roof, but decided against it because he was concerned that heat buildup from the standing seam metal roof could melt the insulation. Instead, he used cellulose and foam board.