A leading Austin architect touches a modern classic design as little as possible while undertaking an affordable green remodel

Just after World War II, Austin architect A.D. Stenger began designing and building what would amount to about 100 custom homes in the Austin area. These Eichler-esque single-story homes had low-slung roofs, exposed roof beams (extending right through to extensive overhangs), characteristic clerestory windows, and really big wood-burning fireplaces. In Austin these days, there is often a tension between the value of Stenger lots, decades of disrepair and half-hearted remodels, and the historic fabric of what are now upscale neighborhoods.

Stenger, then Sampley

It’s pretty easy to take a look at a ramshackle post-war modern home and jump right to demo and a new home. But Stuart Sampley sees the strong connection between honoring classic design and green building. “Quite often you find a client who can look past the tired face of a neglected home to the inherent functional design and how easy it can be to affordably bring that home into the green 21st Century,” says Stuart Sampley. “In this particular Stenger home,” adds Sampley, “we pushed the living and dining places to the front, pulling in a portion of the original deep porch. We opened up the tiny original galley kitchen to better suit the needs of a family of five, and turned a tacked-on storage space into a functional utility and mudroom. Simple but key changes, and all within the original footprint of the Stenger design.”

Sampley adds these two important aspects of the project and client: one, the client had seen what Sampley had done with a Stenger remodel literally next door and, two, the client was quite familiar with Eichler design, having lived in the Bay area of California for many years.

Dealing with the Stenger roof

Perhaps the most challenging design issue on this remodeling project, for Sampley but more importantly for the client, was the roof. “Something has to give,” says Sampley. “The cathedral ceiling with exposed beams and rafters is part of the look and feel of Stenger, but that look translates into abysmal energy performance. You can go topside to get the insulation needed, but that does not give you the HVAC space you need and you end up with nasty-looking trim board widths at the exterior roof line.”

Sampley and his client worked long and hard on the only real affordable and high performance solution: enclosing that cathedral volume to create an unvented attic that was properly air sealed and insulated and that moved all of the HVAC into fully conditioned space.

Sampley recalls: “The final drawings actually called for an option for false beams to be added to the gypsum board ceilings. But, when the time came, the client saw that she no longer really needed them to still feel as though she was in a Stenger home.”

The other roof issue is the through-beams: doubled up 2 by 12s that run from inside to outside the envelope. “In our climate, you want to prevent thermal bridging where possible, but these beams are an integral part of Stenger’s mid-century design,” states Sampley. “We repaired these beams as needed and then thoroughly sealed them before cladding them with finish trim and flashing them to protect their exposed ends.”

What about the slab?

“The only real solution is to wrap the perimeter with rigid insulation,” says Sampley. This is sort of a retrofit frost-protected shallow foundation approach. “But if the slab edge is at-grade — as this one is — you don’t get much bang for your buck with foundation insulation. And doing the slab perimeter insulation job is one that can be done later, keeping the initial project and budget more affordable.” Since Austin has only about 1,600 heating degree days, it is perfectly reasonable to treat the foundation insulation as an optional part of any high-performance green retrofit.

How the Austin Green Building program fits in

“I ask all my clients to meet the minimum Austin Energy Green Building Program’s Basic Requirements – even if some circumstance keeps us from actually rating the project,” says Sampley. “It is a commitment from my client to do the minimum – typically 20% above the current adopted building or energy code. I do not design homes to get points or a number of stars. They are designed with the appropriate solution that will fit my client’s budget and our climate. Then we rate them. It just so happens that many of the homes are rated 5 out of 5 stars” (see attached Austin Energy Green Building Checklist for this project).

And since we asked Stuart about how the Austin Green Building fits into his work, it seemed only fair to ask the Austin program about Stuart’s work! John Umphress, Senior Green Building and Sustainability Consultant for the program had this to say:

“The greenest house is one that already exists, so long as we improve its energy efficiency, livability and longevity. Stuart does a great job of designing to maximize green features and energy efficiency, while keeping budgets within reason. And that’s key to moving the building market towards greater sustainability.”

A measure of success

Clearly, the City of Austin and leading members of the building community, such as Sampley, have a lot invested in green building, their green building program, and preserving the historic fabric of their community. But does it pay?

“That’s easy,” says Sampley with a smile. “Before the project was complete, my client received an unsolicited offer well above other homes in the area and that would give them a handsome return on their investment. That’s proof enough for me, and it certainly was for my client.”

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