What makes your home a Green or Healthy Home?
With its passive solar design, its massively insulated stuccoed straw bale walls, its heavily insulated roof, and its high efficiency radiant heat and air conditioning systems, this home will use very little energy. Hot water and hydronic heating are to be provided by a Baxi Luna tankless, on demand, high efficiency propane fired hot water heater. The fireplace is to be a Rumford design with a Romanesque arched fireplace surround crafted from local limestone salvaged from an old root cellar. Straw bales for the walls will be purchased from a local farmer. The cementitious stucco wall surfaces inside and out require no maintenance and do not outgas. Indeed, they breathe and allow vapor to migrate harmlessly through the wall. All finishes in the house are plant based bio friendly.Property Description
To be built in 2010 by Matthew Crane/Arterra Design and Construction. Inspired by English and Italian farmhouses and country churches, this passive solar straw bale home features a beautiful hand cut timber frame roof and floor structure. Ganged wooden casement windows with deep polished concrete windowsills create symmetry and pattern, and give the home an old craftsman style feel. With its heavy timbered roof soaring high above the massive arched stone fireplace and travertine floors, and lit by artisan made iron and mica wall sconces, the large great room will feel like a medieval cathedral. The builder’s wife is the artist and tile maker Suzanne Crane who makes the botanical vessel sinks that will go in the powder room and master bath. Many of her botanical tiles and murals will be used in the kitchen and bathrooms. In keeping with the exquisite craftsmanship throughout the home, the cherry and walnut cabinetry will all be fine furniture grade and hand crafted by a local artisan. Countertops are all soapstone. Craftsman style stair railings will also be timber framed and will be crafted and milled from an oak harvested on site. The kitchen features commercial appliances such as a Wolf stove and a Kitchenaid refrigerator. Set in a lovely wooded area, directly across from the community pond, and surrounded by preservation acreage, this home will provide a peaceful refuge to the buyer who seeks authenticity of construction united with natural materials and fine craft.
Neighborhood Description
An estate community of eighteen 3 to 5 acre wooded and open lots surrounded by 60 acres of preserved open land. Among the neighbors there are deer, turkey, foxes, songbirds, and the occasional bear. On the other hand, the home is only 20 minutes from downtown Charlottesville, and only 20 minutes from the airport and from Hollymead Town Center and other shopping on Route 29 North.Market Area
20 minutes from downtown Charlottesville, home of the University of Virginia and Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Charlottesville is a thriving small city with a vibrant cultural life and great restaurants. Selected numerous times as one of the best places to live in the USA, Charlottesville and the surrounding counties are blessed with a beautiful landscape and many opportunities for outdoor recreation. Those who live here are passionate about the area.School District
Community
Location of Home or Land
Suburban
Air Quality
| Agriculture in Area | yes |
| Industry in Area | no |
| Air Pollution in Area | no |
| Pesticide Free | yes |
| Fragrance Free | yes |
| Cleaned with Green Products | yes |
Interior Environment
| Heating System | Fireplace |
| Cooling System | High Efficiency Heat Pump |
| Ventilation System | Part of Cooling System |
| Whole House Filtration | HEPA filtration |
| Whole House Vacuum | no |
Energy & Water
| Water System | Well |
| Wastewater System | Septic System |
Construction Information
| Construction Type | Straw bale |
| Exterior Finish | Stucco |
| Interior Finish | Cement Plaster |
| Interior Paint | Low VOC |
| Floor Material | Tile |
| Roof Material | Other |
| Window Material | Metal Dual Glazed |
| Insulation Material | Urethane Foam |
Garage / Car Port
| Garage / Carport | yes |
| Garage Type | detached |
| Number of Cars | 2 |
| Garage Area | 1000 sqft |
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