Northeast Denver Housing is a non-profit affordable housing developer who engaged the abo group to design five affordable, sustainable townhouses in the inner city of Denver. The development takes design cues from the neighboring “Craftsman” bungalows to interpret this character in contemporary terms to enhance lifestyle and livability needs. The expansive front porches provide an outdoor living room to the street.
Sustainable thinking led to deconstructing the two existing single-family homes on the site and allowed for the recovery of 214 cubic yards of lumber, brick, doors, and cabinets which were diverted from the landfill. Sustainable products such as insulated concrete forms, bamboo flooring, recycled plastic carpet and wallboard were used. Low VOC paints and adhesive were specified to improve the indoor air quality.
Energy efficiency was built into the project through the site orientation, the use of durable materials, Energy Star appliances, HVAC systems, and super insulation. These energy efficient features save each homeowner about $350 per year.
