ESKEW+DUMEZ+RIPPLE

For her family of four kids, homeowner Deidre Taylor appreciates the extra outdoor spaces afforded by New Orleans'based EDR's design, including a front porch swing and a second-floor terrace accessible from the master bedroom. Like many other homeowners, the Taylors utilize the shady area under the home. 'We always thought about the space underneath for parking and storage, but also wanted it to serve as a usable gathering space,' explains architect Steve Dumez.

Contributing to the efficiency of the envelope, the Taylor home is constructed of structural insulated panels (SIPs) and fenestration is limited to a single facade. With such a linear design, rainwater collection was a tough nut to crack. 'We couldn't size a gutter for the extremely long shed roof, so we constructed a rain garden below the rear eave to capture and filter water,' explains Howell.

The original idea for the design included elaborate shutters, which were both an aesthetic as well as a practical choice, providing storm protection, security, and shading. 'We specified the shutters as the means for each house to have its own character,' says Dumez. 'We're obviously disappointed that they got value engineered out, but we're going to continue to work with MIR to revise the prototype and aesthetic as well as a practical choice, providing storm protection, security, and shading. “We specified the shutters as the means for each house to have its own character,” says Dumez. “We’re obviously disappointed that they got value engineered out, but we’re going to continue to work with MIR to revise the prototype and hopefully get closer to our initial design.”