South Hill Passive House
While the homeowners' choice to locate their new ultra-insulated passive house on an urban infill lot on Spokane's South Hill made sense on many levels, it also led to some major challenges. A massive basalt outcrop dominated the site, resulting in the lot remaining vacant for decades as the neighborhood grew around it. The architect, Sam Rodell Architects AIA, sited the home on top of the outcrop with retaining walls around the home to create a flat plane for Pura Vida High Performance Builders to work on. Even pushing the limits this way resulted in limited outdoor space, but the intimate courtyard areas provide make the most of what's available.
