Crest House

Energy Efficient Contemporary Craftsman and accompanying studio

Location | Eugene, Oregon
Project Type |  Single-Family Residential
Size |  1,492 SF
Completion |  2022

Crest House is a custom residence set into the slope of Eugene’s South Hills Neighborhood.

A beautiful contemporary craftsman home that exemplifies the owner's commitment to environmental stewardship. The house takes advantage of its uniquely sloped site. With spectacular views of the Cascades to the east and lush landscaping all around, covered and terraced east-facing patio off the living room, the house provides generous outdoor living and gardening spaces.

Much care was taken during the construction of this home to preserve every existing tree on the site, including an old Douglas fir, a huge locust tree, several oaks and maples, and a grand old chestnut tree.

The three structures -an exercise/meditation studio, the garage, and the house- were carefully placed so as not to disturb any of the root systems of the surrounding trees. Inside the house, the cathedral ceiling and all the walls are softened by the application of hand-textured earthen plaster. Expansive glazing and skylights flood the house with natural daylight and offer picturesque views. Thoughtfully planned living spaces are enhanced with beautiful detailing. Handcrafted tiles, custom wood cabinetry, window bays, live-edge wood benches, hand-sculpted plaster niches and archways create spaces that are familiar in function, yet completely unique in experience.

The spiral-shaped studio building is designed to evoke a sense of geometric purity and spiritual balance. On the outside, it sits on a circular board-formed concrete plinth, and on the inside light pours in from a 6 ft diameter oculus. Visitors approach the studio via a curving bridge that is suspended around the trunk of the Douglas fir without touching any of the ground around the fir's root system.

Natural daylight, beauty, health, delight, and energy efficiency were the guiding principles for this project. Low environmental impact was prioritized over house size. Exterior materials were chosen for durability and low maintenance while creating custom craftsman details on virtually every surface.

The house's wall construction features the most sustainable rigid insulation available, made from Gutex wood fiberboard. The continuous insulation significantly reduces thermal transfer from the wall studs and achieves energy efficiency much beyond what is required by code. The HVAC system provides continuous HEPA-filtered fresh air, in addition to highly efficient heating and cooling. Water heating is achieved by a unique heat pump water heater that uses CO2 refrigerant technology instead of the typical refrigerant, which strongly contributes to global warming.

The custom triple-glazed Zola windows and doors have a beautifully finished wood interior and a sleek aluminum exterior. These exceptional windows are among the most energy-efficient available in the US and are typically used in Passive House construction. The most rigorous air-tightness and energy-efficiency strategies were applied to this house, aiming for near-Passive House performance.