Keller Residence

Location
2024 N. Albany, Chicago Map

Owner
Jay Keller and Grace Adefuin

Architect
Space Architect + Planners

2024 N. Albany is a new 2-story with basement, 3,500 sf single-family home seeking Chicago Green Homes certification. This a project designed by an architect as his own family residence - it's not unusual for designers to use their own homes for some experimentation, so it only follows that we're seeing more architects incorporating green in their personal projects. Although the home is on the larger side for floor area, it includes accommodations for live-in extended family, making the size more reasonable.

Most of the green investment goes into energy-saving, but easily achievable features - rigid exterior insulation with spray foam insulation between studs, high-efficiency mechanical systems, and an Energy Star roof. The basement floor slab includes radiant heat; in frame construction it is common to see radiant heat included in the basement only, where it is easy to lay the necessary tubing prior to pouring the floor slab.

There's enough rear yard for a small rain garden and rain barrels. Beyond that, there are handful of green materials, including recycled-content carpet (in the few areas where hard surfaces aren't used), and low-VOC paints, sealants, and adhesives. Overall, this project is another example of a budget-conscious but reasonably responsible design. The project general contractor is James Koback of Rohar Enterprises.