Red House is the transformation of a South Side Slopes urban dwelling, rendered in two parts: the street side and the city side. On the street side, a new high-efficiency envelope will be overlaid, paradoxically lath-like in appearance, and continuing across window openings to become operable awnings and shutters.

The city side encloses new spaces in vernacular gable and shed forms with a new palette of steel, timber, and glass. In sharp contrast to the container-like characteristics of the street side, the city side is a study in transparency, with soaring volumes connecting to the city beyond.

Exterior fins track the sun over the course of the day, preserving dramatic views of the city skyline while reducing energy use. The pool, via heat exchangers, is a component of the building’s mechanical system during the summer – literally moving heat from the interior to the water. With the strict application of high-performance building systems, overall energy usage will decrease, though the project nearly doubles the square footage of the existing building.