FAULHABER RESIDENCE, 1993
EVERETT, WASHINGTON
MARK R. BLUBAUGH, ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT

The Fauhaber residence serves dual functions: a place for entertaining large groups, and a cozy refuge for the single owner. The new dining room adjoins the existing living room and a new deck to provide a large contiguous area for entertainment. The kitchen provides an area for a quiet cup of coffee while enjoying the view, and the adjacent hearth room is a cozy place to curl up with a book by the fire. A dramatic, step-glazed stair hall separates the private upper floor master suite without presenting an obtrusive barrier. Sweeping views of Puget Sound are brought into the house by a panoramic window wall in the dining room, and corner windows in the kitchen and master bath suite. The additions respect the existing northwest modern theme of the house and incorporate a second floor while maintaining the horizontal character of the house.

Major Considerations: The existing house was expensive to heat, yet remained cold. The remodeling reduced existing glazing sizes slightly, all windows were converted to double pane glass, the floors were insulated throughout, all wall cavities were exposed and insulated, and the electric furnace was replaced with a high efficiency gas unit. The uninsinuated roof decking was covered by an insulated attic while retaining the deck and beam ceilings in all single floor areas. As a result, while the house is larger, it actually uses a lot less energy than it did before the remodel.