The Nice residence is a 1,800 square feet addition to an existing three bedroom Oakland Hills residence. Floor to ceiling windows and lofts in the bedrooms make the most out of the sweeping view. The family spends a lot of time in the garden and on their existing deck, and enhancing the flow of inside and outside spaces is a core goal of the project.
The design draws heavily on passive solar design, creating a balance between solar gain (sunlight and energy coming in), thermal mass on the inside to balance the temperature over the course of the day and great insulation to create comfortable interior temperatures with minimal heating needs. Remaining energy needs are covered by hydronic radiant heating, served by solar collectors on the roof.
The project is nearly hidden from the driveway, giving the owners exceptional privacy.
